Dehring declares `Ram-de-Dance’ campaign
Guyana Chronicle
April 9, 2007
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) – Operation ‘Ram-de-Dance’ is a new campaign launched Saturday by Cricket World Cup (CWC) organisers "to fill stadiums" for the remaining 12 Super 8 matches in Grenada and Barbados, the semi-finals and the final, chief organiser Chris Dehring has announced.
Responding to negative publicity over prices, tournament guidelines “stifling of the Caribbean culture” and half-empty stadiums surrounding the first-round matches and early Super 8 matches, especially in Antigua & Barbuda and St Kitts & Nevis, Dehring declared a public relations and a ticket sale incentive.
Dehring admitted that the CWC organisers should take the blame "for not communicating" as well as they could have with the public, particularly with what is permitted at the matches.
"Some myths have been perpetuated across the Caribbean that you realised that the message you are trying to send out hasn't been received in some of the countries and that's one the challenges we have had," Dehring told CMC.
"For instance here in Antigua, I have heard incredible things like music not being played in the stands; musical instruments banned which clearly are not true because in Jamaica people were bringing musical instruments, there was loud music all over the place. It was a great party. It happened in Guyana," said Dehring, the managing director of Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc.
He said DJ Chickie (Nigel Baptiste), who popularised the party stand at the Antigua Recreation Ground, has been spinning music at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here.
"He will always be the godfather of the party stands in the Caribbean," Dehring said.
He urged Antiguan cricket fans to support the last Super 8 game here between world champions, Australia, and England on Sunday.
"We need to come out. The same must happen in Grenada and Barbados. We are confident it will happen," Dehring added.