KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) - The International Cricket Council and the West Indies Cricket Board will formally sign the Host Agreement that establishes West Indies as the host of the Cricket World Cup 2007 tomorrow.
The signing ceremony takes place during an evening reception at Jamaica House.
According to Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the ICC, who will attend the signing along with ICC president Ehsan Mani, the Host Agreement is the “foundation agreement that formally establishes the partnership between the WICB and the ICC over the next four years”.
Mani and Speed gave the bold assurance at a news conference on Friday in Barbados that the ICC will not allow the CWC 2007 to flop, after Australian newspaper reported that Australia was lining up as an alternative venue because of growing fears the Caribbean might not measure up.
During their stay in Jamaica, Mani and Speed will also attend a Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the headquarters of the ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc.
Mani and Speed arrive at the Norman Manley Airport in Jamaica from Bridgetown today. They will hold a news briefing in the VIP Lounge at the Norman Manley Airport, where the ICC CWC trophy, worth 30 000 pounds sterling, and made by the Queen’s Jewellers, Asprey and Garrad, will be shown.
The cornerstone-laying ceremony takes place later today at #51 St Lucia Avenue in Kingston.
The building on which the cornerstone will be laid is currently being refurbished and will be a gift from the Jamaican Government to the ICC CWC WI 2007, to house their headquarters.
According to Chris Dehring, managing director, ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. has been provided with the building through 2007 to establish the headquarters for the event.
It is expected that satellite CWC offices will be established throughout the region as ICC CWC WI 2007 rolls out its operational plan to stage the world’s third largest international sporting event.
Speakers at the ceremony will include Teddy Griffith, president of the WICB; Rawle Brancker, chairman of the ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. Board; Malcolm Speed; and P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica.