India behind Guyana to realise stadium venture
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
April 5, 2004
THE Indian Government has pledged to support Guyana in her bid to build a stadium for the 2007 World Cup which the West Indies Cricket Board is assiduously working on to host.
Speaking at the official handing-over ceremony of the Bid Book to President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday, High Commissioner to Guyana for the Republic of India, Avinash Gupta, said that his country is behind Guyana to realise this venture.
Gupta said that his government’s support is a symbol of the glowing friendship and relationship with Guyana.
In December 2003 a technical team from India came to Guyana to have discussions concerning the stadium among other things and Gupta said that he is hopeful that a local delegation will also visit India to finalise the proposal on the stadium.
Gupta said that there is a strong link between Cricket and Diplomacy and he would like to see that link further strengthened.
An impression of the stadium, designed by Indian experts, was earlier this month presented to the government.
The stadium should hold between 15 000 to 20 000 spectators and should have facilities to accommodate offices, conference halls, restaurants, and a cinema.
The proposed site for the stadium is at Providence, East Bank of Demerara, and should take up some 60 acres of land that was previously under sugarcane cultivation.
While the stadium is being constructed, President Jagdeo said, some 500 houses would be built solely for World Cup accommodation, following which they will be sold on the market.
The president said that the stadium will ensure that all Guyanese have cricket in the future as it was a conscious decision not only to bid to host the matches but also to secure our future.
President Jagdeo also said that he was pleased with the recent Heads of Government CARICOM meeting in which it was agreed that all states must work in collaboration in order for the World Cup Bid to be successful.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh has said that some 12 countries have submitted bids to host the 2007 events and the WICB is hoping that at least eight Caribbean nations would come forward to offer venues, failing which the event will go to another nation.
He said 51 games will be played by 16 nations with some four venues required for the hosting of 16 matches in the preliminary stage, with another four venues for the hosting of the super-eight round, to be followed by the semifinals and final.
“I think that Guyana needs much more cricket and I think a stadium will achieve this,” Singh said.
He also noted that the projection for the 2007 event is that 100 000 tourists will arrive and some half a billion US dollars will be spent which will benefit the entire Caribbean.
Pepsi is the official drink of the 2007 World Cup.