Xavier appointed Stadium Manager
Young Warriors, GCC in Twenty20 clash next Friday
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
February 10, 2007
GUYANA’S readiness for Cricket World Cup will be tested next Friday with a Twenty20 match at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence in a trial run to the mega event, as former minister Anthony Xavier is named manager of the new venue.
This was announced at a media briefing at the stadium, yesterday, hosted by the Local Organising Committee.
Reigning national Twenty20 champions Young Warriors, who won the Sharpooji Pallonji competition for the title, will clash with Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) from 13:30 h.
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, the LOC chairman, said the staging of match was to assimilate what would happen on a CWC match day.
“So all systems will be checked.”
LOC Chief Executive Officer Karan Singh disclosed that the LOC was obligated to have a trial event to test the various areas of operation.
“It is to test the operation procedures that were prepared jointly with the LOC and CWC.”
He said the LOC would be looking at security, media accreditation, volunteers, medical facilities, the critical cricket operations, anti-corruption/doping facilities, cameras and public address system.
“You name it, the area will be tested. We want to be sure come the evening of February 16, that we are ready to host the mega event.”
He said the LOC would be inviting people who would be categorised as VIPs to test the VIP area.
Singh announced that admission would be free, but spectators would have to collect tickets at the booths to get into the stadium, passing through the turnstiles, complete with security checks for the items not allowed in the stadium, a list of which would be posted at the entrance. He said gates would be open from 11:00 h.
“You will have to have a ticket to get in and the media people who will handle it will have to be accredited, just like the mega event.”
He pointed out that not everyone would have a ticket to see the CWC matches and they could have the experience of being at the new stadium for the trial match.
“We are focusing a lot on schoolchildren. We’re opening it to schools, the youth in particular, clubs and so on.”
Singh introduced Xavier as Stadium Manager, not only for the CWC but beyond that event.
“After Cricket World Cup, he has the bigger task of ensuring use of the facilities is maximised for the benefit of all Guyanese.”
Asked how he would do that, Xavier said a strategic plan was now being drawn up, and he would be meeting with the national associations, like the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), to look at their itinerary and how they could be accommodated.
“The whole idea is that the stadium must not become a white elephant.”