BID Production Manager Phillip Allsopp has expressed his elation at receiving word that Guyana’s Bid to host matches in the 2007 Cricket World Cup has come true with the announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC), yesterday.
“I would say that I and the others who were involved will be very much gratified with this because we did tremendous work.
A lot of people contributed to making this bid a success since we had to work with them to get the relevant information for the bid.”
Speaking to Chronicle Sport from his Parade Street, Kingston home, Allsopp said he had missed the word on Guyana’s selection but his spirit was lifted when informed.
He said the next step is to have the stadium constructed.
“The real job is to have the stadium finished because that is where we should go. Constructing the stadium is where the challenge lies, but I think it is possible to have it done in 24 months.”
And Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira had said earlier that construction of Guyana’s new stadium, cricket stadium is billed to start this year end regardless of whether this country succeeds in its bid to stage matches.
The Minister had said that the stadium is expected to cost in the vicinity of US$20M and the Guyana government through President Bharrat Jagdeo has outlined a grant of US$6M and a soft loan of US$14M from the Indian government for the project.
The Verification Assessment Team (VAT) said that Guyana will have some 24 months to finish construction on its International Cricket Council (ICC) specified stadium, with the remaining months before the event as correction and adjustment periods.
Engineer by profession, Allsopp said the Ministry of Works will have direct dealing when it comes down to the construction of the stadium.
The VAT on arriving in Guyana in May 27 said they were impressed with Guyana’s bid.
“I think it was very important for us as we go from country to country to know that the locals, the people of the regions were preparing themselves in every walk of life, in every challenge that they have to face in cricket world cup and I can think of no better example of a country mobilising all the resources, its resources, everything that it has to offer and putting it forward to solve the riddle of the cricket world cup,” said Managing Director of the World Cup West Indies Committee Chris Dehring.
Dehring said that was in essence what they were asking for in the 290-page Bid Book that contained 690 questions in 24 deliveries that had been circulated on February 19.
Guyana’s package is also in the Brown or Orange bracket, which is the hosting of first round matches.
He said the book posed a number of challenges and from a technical perspective of hosting the event, Guyana and all other countries were required to find solutions to the challenges that fit their country.
Some 33 months remain before the start of the event.
Donald Lockerbie Venue Development Director said that once a country is approved they would be working very closely with the government.
Guyana’s bid was aired, highlighting the features of the stadium, security, transportation and accommodation among other issues at the breakout sessions that were held at Le Meridien when the VAT visited.
The Power Point presentation was about 15 minutes in duration.
The countries selected to host matches are Antigua (a new venue with a capacity of 20,000), Barbados (Upgrade of Kensington Oval), Grenada (Major upgrade of Queen's Park to increase capacity to 20,000), Guyana (A new stadium with a capacity of 20,000), Jamaica (Upgraded Sabina Park to increase capacity to 30,000), St Kitts (Major renovations to Warner Park to increase capacity to 13,000), St Lucia (Upgrade of Beausejoir to increase capacity to 20,000) and Trinidad & Tobago (Minor renovations to Queen's Park Oval).
Bermuda's National Sports Centre has been selected as a back-up venue to host matches in cases of emergencies. Bermuda will also host warm-up games.
There will be 16 teams, playing 51 matches in the competition.