Successful Super Eight dispelled skepticism - Dr. Anthony
Tour packages were not adequately designed – Singh
By Rawle Welch
Kaieteur News
April 10, 2007
Local Organising Committee Chairman (LOC) Dr. Frank Anthony and his Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karan Singh unanimously agreed that Guyana's successful hosting of the Super Eight stage of CWC 2007 had succeeded in dispelling most of the earlier skepticisms.
They were speaking during an interactive session held for both local and foreign media operatives shortly after the match between Bangladesh and South Africa last Saturday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
In response to questions of the country's performance in delivering their end of CWC 2007, Dr. Anthony stated that “It has been a long journey, but we've been able to deliver.”
Despite the disappointing turnout by West Indian fans, Guyana has been able to record the largest accumulative attendance to date and this according to Dr. Anthony is very gratifying to the LOC and its staff and testimony to the hard work put in by everyone.
The Chairman offered an explanation to the late decision to disburse free tickets to the schools which according to him was delayed because they still felt at that time visitors were a little behind in purchasing tickets.
Close to 2,000 school children were given free tickets to view some of the matches which cost according to Singh would have to be borne by the LOC, thus minimizing their profitability since the ICC had stipulated that monies accrued by way of ticket sales will be given to the host countries. “Because of the usual late occurrence especially by West Indian fans to purchase tickets, we decided to delay the decision to invite the schools,” Singh intimated.
Asked whether the ICC had placed an enormous burden on the host territories to prepare for CWC 2007, Singh retorted that “if one is to examine in totality the burden placed on the LOCs, it's almost everything.” “Sometimes when you're so excited to host, you almost ignore the blue print,” Singh pointed out. “The Host Signing Agreement was pretty, pretty bad.”
He said the packages were not adequately designed, referring to the high prices the tour packages offered, saying that they were getting calls from people who indicated that they would rather buy their own tickets and make their own arrangements for accommodation.
He, however, stated that despite not having full revenue gains, Guyana was able to showcase itself at no cost and was optimistic that because it offered a different tourism product that is eco-tourism, the benefits will be garnered overtime.
Dr. Anthony disclosed that all those areas that were not completed which included the parking lot inside the stadium and a few others will be done. He revealed that a gym among other amenities will be installed to maximize the use of the facility long after CWC would have finished.
It was also disclosed that a full time staff will be appointed to run the day to day activities of the stadium. “This facility will be used for the next 100 years to host cricket, but we will also cater for other sport disciplines as well,” Dr. Anthony said.
The Chairman divulged that the Government has invested quite a substantial amount of money in making the stadium a reality and it would be of no benefit to them to limit its use.