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Grenada has turned the corner – elevating its status – and now it’s all systems go for the hosting of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

So says Donald Lockerbie, Venue Development Director of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc., after completing an extensive tour yesterday of the National Stadium at Queen’s Park in Grenada and practice facilities at Progress Park, on the northeastern side of the island, and La Sagesse on the southwestern side.

Continuing their ICC Venue Tour throughout Host Venues for next year’s tournament, a team of ICC and CWC 2007 officials – Lockerbie, Eugene Van Vuuren, Andy Atkinson, Jeff Atherton and Rick Jemison – examined the country’s infrastructural development towards hosting matches in the Super 8 stage of the Event next March and April.

Addressing Grenadian media, Lockerbie praised the quantity and quality of work done since their last visit on March 1 this year.

“It is unbelievable the progress (that has been) made, in the period of time since our last visit,” he said. “All parties including the Chinese construction team, the Ministry of Sports, the local technical team and the Grenada LOC (Local Organising Committee) must be complimented. What we have seen is way beyond our expectations. It is phenomenal accomplishment.”

The Chinese construction team informed the officials that the legacy aspect of the members’ pavilion would be completed by the end of May while the media and players facilities are slated to be finished by the end of June – ahead of schedule. The construction at the practice venues is progressing well and expected to be completed in time to allow testing of the playing surfaces.

Pitch and field preparations at all venues are on schedule and progressing very smoothly and the company contracted to handle this aspect, Terra Forma Developments Ltd., and the Ministry of Sports are ensuring the required consistency and standards are met.

The visiting delegation also applauded the approach of the Grenada LOC and Ministry of Sport in preparing the practice venues which, like the stadium pitch, will be tested with matches in August-September.

Members of the ICC Venue Tour paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports, the Hon. Roland Bhola, before departing for Barbados.

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The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has lauded the decision by the Local Organising Committees (LOCs) and ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. to offer all living former West Indies players, tickets to next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.

“WIPA is extremely pleased that the ICC Cricket World Cup organisation has chosen such a befitting manner to show its appreciation to all who have represented the West Indies. ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. Managing Director & CEO, Chris Dehring, and I had discussed the matter and I indicated that WIPA would definitely approve of and support this gesture,” said WIPA President Dinanath Ramnarine, a former West Indies leg-spinner.

In a recent statement, ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. and the nine LOCs announced that all living persons who have represented the West Indies cricket team in Tests or One-Day Internationals would receive a gift of two Category One tickets – free of cost – to “all the warm-up and/or Cricket World Cup matches to be staged in their home territory”.

Former West Indies cricketers, born in Caribbean countries not hosting official ICC CWC 2007 matches, will be able to designate a territory and the matches for which they would like to have tickets.

“The LOCs had no hesitation in supporting this plan. We all consider it a small token of appreciation for the joy and inspiration which they – our heroes on the cricket field – have given us over the years,” said Dehring of the signal honour.

CEO of St. Vincent & the Grenadines LOC, Mike Findlay – who is a former West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman – also applauded the salute to former players.

“I am delighted that former West Indies cricketers are being offered tickets to watch Cricket World Cup matches. It is very thoughtful of the organisers and clearly indicates that they recognise the contribution those cricketers made to West Indies cricket. It is a way of saying ‘your efforts are truly appreciated’,” he stated.

On WIPA’s behalf, Ramnarine wished ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. “the very best in organising the tournament” and pledged WIPA “will do all it can to work with ICC Cricket World Cup to ensure the Event is a success”.

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ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. has termed the awarding of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2010 to the region “an indication of the ICC’s appreciation of the handling of preparations for next year’s Cricket World Cup and has stated that it is the first major legacy benefit from hosting the Event”.

Noting that the West Indies will now be hosting the “two most prestigious cricket tournaments within three years of each other”, ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. Chairman, Kenneth Gordon, says this is already evidence that, given the proper infrastructure and professionalism, the Caribbean can vie to host more international events.

“We are very pleased to see that the work and planning which has been invested in the ICC Cricket World Cup has been acknowledged in this way. There’s no doubt that such efforts played a significant part in the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) successful bid for the ICC Champions Trophy.

“This will be another opportunity for the region to show it is capable of delivering a world-class event in the same way that much bigger countries, with greater economies and resources, have been doing for many years.

“This is what we mean when we speak of the legacy benefits of Cricket World Cup. This is the first major example of what the Caribbean can reap in the future because of the investment being made now,” he said.

Gordon thanked the employees of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. who developed the WICB’s bid presentation that was submitted to the ICC last February.

“That team at Cricket World Cup headquarters worked tremendously hard to ensure the WICB had the best possible chance of securing at least one of the tournaments for which ICC members were bidding. It was a first-class document which they prepared and it was very well received by the ICC. They were quite impressed,” revealed the Chairman, noting that the region is developing a cadre of sports-events professionals at ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. whose expertise will be invaluable for tournaments such as the ICC Champions Trophy.

Gordon also thanked outgoing WICB CEO Roger Brathwaite for his role in coordinating the bid on WICB’s behalf.

He also pointed out that ICC used “a virtually identical bid process to that conceptualised by WICB in determining Host Venues for next year’s Event”.

“There were 24 questions just as Cricket World Cup 2007 had 24 deliverables and much of them were very similar.

“That is a compliment of the highest order. Once ICC continues to utilise our blueprint, WICB should be competitive in bidding for major ICC tournaments in the future, especially with the new stadiums across the Caribbean.”

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