KINGSTON, Jamaica, (WICB): ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 (or CWC 2007) has started to advertise regionally and internationally for an advisory firm or consortium to form the Venue Assessment Team to select host venues.
The process started last Tuesday with a placement of a request for proposal notice on the West Indies Cricket Board’s website, www.windiescricket.com.
“The Venue Assessment Team will be comprised of experts with experience in venue and event development, operations, planning and design in the arena of Cricket World Cups and other world championships,” remarked Don Lockerbie, venue development director of the CWC 2007.
“Individuals and firms with experience in Olympic Games, Football World Cups and other such world championships, including cricket World Cups of course, are encouraged to submit their qualifications and project approach. Bids are due on July 24 and we anticipate the selected VAT firm to begin services by late August.”
Lockerbie explained the importance of the VAT considering that starting in November this year, Caribbean countries will be bidding for the right to become a host venue in 2007.
“The VAT will design the tender document that will detail all the specifications required to host events in 2007 and, after bids are submitted, technically assess countries against those requirements,” he said.
“In order to be selected by next year, the interested countries will need to plan and begin executing strategies to develop the most modern, high-tech and event operations friendly venues possible that will pass the inspection of the VAT,” he added.
“By venues, we are not only citing stadiums! In fact, each country’s airports, marinas, ports, hotels, telecommunications, Internet capabilities, roadways, transportation, etc. will be assessed by the VAT to determine suitability to host events in 2007.”
The CWC 2007 will be the ninth edition of the premier limited-overs cricket competition in the world.