World Cup tickets still available - Karan Singh
Guyana Chronicle
March 17, 2007
AS THE final touches are being put on the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) maintains that tickets are available for the Guyana matches, except for one.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana LOC Karan Singh, yesterday, declared at the weekly Cricket World Cup (CWC) briefing at the stadium, that tickets were available in all categories for the Super Eight matches here.
“Only for the anticipated clash between the West Indies and Sri Lanka, some categories have been sold out. But in all the others, tickets are available.”
Singh said he anticipated that Guyanese were waiting for the last minute to buy tickets, so the ticket centre at the LOC office in Middle Street would be open daily Monday to Saturday from 08:00 h to 16:30 h and even on match days.
“We are seeking permission from the ICC for later opening.”
The LOC official said that corporate response was not good and urged business houses to take advantage to buy tickets en bloc so that their employees could be part of the historic event.
However, asked about the poor response in booking by the airlines to Guyana, Singh said that external marketing was handled by the CWC 2007 and not the LOCs.
Singh disclosed that an ICC team would be here from Monday to work with the LOC to ensure “any little area” that might have been overlooked will be identified and corrected.
He said that the ICC did not grant permission for a final simulation run but the “royal flush” would be done on Monday for which the final touches were being done in several areas.
“There are some things that could not be done before. The venue graphics are being put up, and sponsors are putting down their boards.”
The CEO said the concrete drains, turnstile area, accreditation centre, installing television sets, and adjustment in furniture in the media centre were some areas that were being finished off.
He disclosed that the video replay screen was coming in and would be installed by GL, the company responsible for it.
Singh said the park area just north of the stadium would be completed by next week Friday and a company with transport management expertise would be responsible for the Park & Walk arrangement.
He said tickets for both the Park & Walk and Park & Ride transport arrangement would cost $1 000 and would be available from Monday at the LOC, with a sticker issued for vehicles to have access to the eastern carriageway on the East Bank Demerara Public Road to the stadium.
Singh said that the LOC would arrange with the Scouts Association to manage the Park & Ride facility at the National Cultural Centre tarmac in the City and the Diamond Community Centre on the East Bank Demerara.
The LOC official said the Public Road would be closed on match days to trucks, heavy duty vehicles, container vehicles and horse-drawn carts 08:00 h to 11:00 h and 15:00 to 20:00 h.
He said even residents in the surrounding communities would have to get stickers to enter those areas on match days to prevent those communities being congested with vehicles.
“The response from them has been good,” he said.
Singh pointed out that for the Bed & Breakfast facility, the LOC was just putting the systems in place like providing the website and links to other hospitality websites, and ensuring that the facilities were up to standard.
“We are not abandoning providers, but they must help themselves in marketing.”
The CEO said that the local volunteer programme would be launched next week Wednesday, which was not specifically for ICC CWC body, but for the government and people of Guyana.
He said the Volunteers would be in key spots in the city to guide tourists and provide information. They will be dressed in bright orange uniforms.