KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on Thursday disclosed that Jamaica will submit two venues in its bid to host matches in the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.
At a press conference, Patterson announced plans to bid for two of the eight packages, which are being offered and said Jamaica will be bidding for the final, a number of quarterfinals as well as one of the four groups of preliminary and warm-up matches.
Against this background, he said the government intends to prepare both Sabina Park and the Greenfield site in Trelawny as venues.
"We intend to propose in our bid as our first option, that the final and quarterfinals be at Sabina Park (in Kingston) and that the preliminaries and warm-up matches be at the Greenfield site in (the northern parish of) Trelawny. If that is not accepted, our second option is the reverse of the above, that is to have the preliminary and warm-up matches at Sabina Park and the final and quarterfinals at the Greenfield site," said Patterson.
He said the shortlist of bidders will be announced by July 4 and this will then await the approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which should place its stamp of approval on the venues by the end of September.
The Prime Minister also slammed local critics who are suggesting that Jamaica's preparations for the World Cup are behind schedule.
"Local organising committees have been advised not to commence its CWC 2007 venue and infrastructure development operations until this overlay process has been completed and a notice to proceed has been issued by CWC 2007."
Patterson emphasised that the hosting of the World Cup in Jamaica should be viewed not only as a sporting activity but also as a catalyst for economic growth and development.