KINGSTON, Jamaica – Between March and April 2007, Jamaica will come alive with activities surrounding the hosting of the international cricket, local and international entertainment, craft markets, local and international cuisine, street parades and parties.
It is a time when we as a country will present our people, our culture and our country to the world. Why? It is the hosting of the world’s third largest sporting event, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2007, being held in this hemisphere for the very first time in the history of the tournament.
The hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 event was awarded to the West Indies Cricket Board. Jamaica and eight other Caribbean Countries namely: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago have been selected as host venues. Jamaica was awarded the YELLOW PACKAGE of the tournament which will see the country hosting the following matches of the championship:
Warm up Matches
West Indies vs. Kenya
India vs. the Netherlands
Kenya vs. the Netherlands
India vs. West Indies
Opening Ceremony
1st Round Matches
West Indies vs. Pakistan
Zimbabwe vs. Ireland
Pakistan vs. Ireland
West Indies vs. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe vs. Pakistan
West Indies vs. Ireland
Semi-Final
A Semi-Final
In order to fulfill its obligations under the Host Venue Agreement (HVA), Jamaica has agreed to build a state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility in Trelawny and to extensively refurbish one of cricket’s most famous grounds, Sabina Park in Kingston.
Scope of Work at Sabina Park
Work on this historic site was done in three phases. The pitch and field of play were the first to be completed to international standards in time to host the South African Tour in the June 2005. The outfield at Sabina has now been fitted with a sub-surface drainage network and an automatic irrigation system. Sections of the George Headey Stand were also refurbished.
Sabina Park
The second phase involved the completion of the refurbishing works to the George Headley Stand to include the construction of a new spectator concourse with concessions stands, merchandise facilities and other amenities; refurbished bathrooms and mechanical electrical systems. A “lower seating bowl” has also been added thereby increasing the seating capacity of the stand and a new Spectator Club Lounge on the first floor.
Phase three of the project covered the demolition of the old north stand, the acquisition of properties located along Melbourne Road and the building of a new structure, the North Stand, to house ultra-modern players, sponsors and officials facilities; broadcast control facilities; press box core; seventy-eight new suites on two levels; as well as seating for an estimated 7,500 spectators.
The Park now boosts a much larger ‘party stand’ spanning the length of South Camp Road between the George Headley Stand and the former Melbourne Road. An electronic scoreboard is also to be installed in this area. Built to international standards, the stadium will be able to accommodate the physically challenged and persons confined to wheel chairs. For the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Sabina Park will accommodate 20,000 of which 4,000 will be temporary seating.
Construction work was completed in December 2006 and installation of temporary overlay, specific to the Event, is well on the way. These include large air-conditioned tents for entertaining corporate guests and sponsors, temporary seating as well as a Mello Fan Zone where the best of Jamaican products and services will be on display.
Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium
The Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium is sited on approximately 60 acres of ‘virgin’ land and ground breaking took place on November 10, 2005. The facility is located on the Daniel Town Main Road, approximately 2km east of the historic town of Falmouth.
The Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium is the ‘home’ of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 prestigious Opening Ceremony at which all 16 teams will be present. It is further anticipated that all heads of cricket playing nations or their representatives will be in attendance; add to that approximately 1100 international media personnel who will be attending the event, and one gets the feeling of the magnitude of the event.
The Trelawny facility is not a cricket stadium and can be used for any type of mega event. There are two stands – north and south – with seating capacity of 2,500 and 8,500 respectively, and two grassed berms to accommodate an additional 5,000 spectators. The view from the southern stand is that of a postcard – an un-obscured view of the beautiful Caribbean Sea and the town of Falmouth towards the left.
Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium
Construction is being financed under a government to government loan agreement between Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China repayable over 20 years. The loan agreement was executed by the Ministry of Finance and the People’s Republic of China on May 31, 2005. Construction is being carried out by COMPLANT Engineering out of China with a number of local sub-contractors. The events of the ICC CWC 2007 champions begin here with four warm-up matches between March 5 and 9.
New Area of Marketing
The sighting of the stadium on the northwestern section of the island is strategic as it lends itself for the development of new areas of marketing. Plans are already in place to embark on marketing Jamaica as Event and Sports Tourism destination.
The town of Falmouth and its environs will benefit tremendously from the facility being located at their ‘door step’. The residents are benefiting from a Bed and Breakfast Programme recently launched by the Tourism Product Development Company. During the Event, the town, with its rich history and Georgian architecture will be transformed into a ‘walking museum’ with guided tours. Tours and attractions are being developed that will attract the thousands of cricket spectators who will be in the island during the period March – April 2007.
Planning World Class Event
Planning a world class event needs a world class team and the Jamaica Local Organising Committee has amassed a team of professional to effectively organise and execute the events of the YELLOW PACKAGE. The LOC has identified nineteen areas of seamless planning, these include; Finance, Venue Development, Medical Health and Anti-doping, Volunteer, Transportation, Security, Cricket Operations, Information Technology and Communications, Travel, Accommodation & Hospitality; Special Events; Events Management, Commercial, Legal, Marketing and Communications.
The Team
The Directors – Dr. Wayne Reid, Chairman; Alva Anderson, Paul Campbell, Mike Fennell, Howard Hamilton, John “Jackie” Hendricks, Carole A.M. Guntley, Peter Melhado, Senator Noel Sloley, Michael Vaccianna, Robert Bryan, Executive Director
Management Staff – Robert Bryan – Executive Director, Chris Smith, Venue Development Manager; Kenneth Livingston, Finance Manager; Lisa O’Gilvie, Logistic & Operations; Elena Girvan, Travel, Accommodation Manager; Vilma McDonald, Volunteer Coordinator; Roxanne Morris, Commercial Manager; Oneil Cruickshank, Cricket Operations; Joan Young-Davis, Special Events; Grace Collymore, Administrative Manager; Major Desmon Brown, Transport Manager; Dr. Marion DuCasse, Coordinator, Medical Health & Anti-doping; Raymond Reece, Information Technology & Communications; ACP Owen Ellington, Coordinator, Security; Pauline Nelson, Communications Manager;
Where are we 52 days before the start of ICC CWC
Jamaica has pride of place as the tournament unfolds on our soil, with the Opening Ceremony at the beautiful Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium on Sunday March 11th. This will be followed two days later with the first match of the tournament between our very own West Indies playing Pakistan at the historic Sabina Park.
Jamaica has the distinction of managing the Opening Ceremony, and a team of highly creative and technical persons to execute the event. The Opening Ceremony is the only event of the tournament that all 16 teams will attend, and most likely the greatest presence of visiting heads of governments of participating nations. The event, dubbed West Indian Energy, will showcase the influence of the peoples of the region on the rest of the world.
Jamaica’s preparation is going very well; our stadium will be completed as scheduled (handing over to the ICC is 21 days before the start of the event). The venues will be ready way ahead of that date. The pitch and out fields are complete and are being maintained; all accommodation requirements have been met and booked. The transportation plan for the movement of the teams officials, media and sponsors have been submitted and approved by the ICC. The medical plans has been submitted and approved. All security planning and arrangements have been met and training has begun. All 1000 volunteers needed to successfully host the event have been identified and training has begun.
Ticket Sales
The final phase of ticketing opens on February 1. During this phase purchasers will be able to walk away with their ticket. Individuals are now able to purchase as much as 10 tickets to any one match. Tickets will go on sale both online at www.cricketworldcup.com and at the official ICC CWC Ticket Centre at Shop 51 & 52 Kingston Mall, Ocean Boulevard.
As the event draws closer there is a ‘fever pitch’ of activities in Jamaica with lots of events, parties and festivals being planned. Calendars of Things to Do and Places to Go while in Jamaica are being compiled thereby making Jamaica the place to be in March and April 2007.
