Date:27/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072704672100.htm

Sport

Kensington Oval will be ready only by January 2007

Special Correspondent

Requests for World Cup tickets have come even from Antarctica

Chris de Caires. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: Construction work at the venue for the final of the 2007 Cricket World Cup — Kensington Oval at Bridgetown, Barbados — is scheduled to finish just two months before the biggest ever one-day tournament commences, but officials are confident of things falling in place.

Speaking at a meeting in The Hindu office on Wednesday, Chris de Caires, chairman, World Cup Barbados Inc., said though logistics for transport and accommodation during the event were a challenge, there was nothing he saw that concerned him.

Kensington Oval, which will host four warm-up matches, six Super Eight matches, and the final on April 28, was demolished last year. Refurbishment, in conjunction with L&T, an India-based construction company, was undertaken to increase seating capacity from 16,000 to 28,000.

"The test practice matches will be held in September," said de Caires. "They were initially scheduled for July, but our construction got re-scheduled. The facility is on schedule, well perhaps a stand or two may be a week behind, but that really isn't much." The facility is expected to be ready by January 2007.

Problem areas

Two areas of concern have been the infrastructure for transporting people within the Caribbean, and the hotel facilities to deal with the influx of people.

"The facilities for bringing people into the Caribbean is fairly strong," said de Caires. "We've got excellent connections through Europe and America. But, movement within the Caribbean will be a challenge."

He spoke of the historic Caribbean Community (CARICOM) deal that allows the nine hosting countries to be treated as a single entity, and hence eases passport control and travel between the islands during the World Cup.

"An area we are working hard on is minimising the time it takes for you to move from the airport to your taxi. A single visa will help that."

Peak season

On accommodation, de Caires said, "This is peak season for us, and the costs will naturally be high. But, our hoteliers have assured us that they won't increase their rates beyond last year's peak season. I understand it's quite high at $300 to 400.

"There are some challenges there, but the problem is more because a perception was built that they will be lower. The Caribbean has traditionally been a high-priced hotel industry."

Barbados has chartered a cruise ship — Destiny — that will double up as accommodation, and bolster the number of rooms available for the expected inflow of 30,000. India could play Super Eight matches in Barbados, and possibly "one other match — the final", as de Caires said.

The World Cup is expected to be the third largest sporting event in the world after the football World Cup and the Olympics, a fact borne out when Joseph Benfield, CFO, World Cup Barbados Inc., said he had received ticket requests from Antarctica!