Rally 'round the West Indies

[Karl]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Rally 'round the West Indies</SPAN>
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Monday, March 05, 2007
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>Officially the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 begins in a week's time (Sunday, March 11) with the Opening Ceremony at the new Trelawny Stadium, near Falmouth in north-western Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But in effect we are already in tournament mode. The teams are all here and the warm-up phase of the tournament begins here today and started yesterday in other territories of the region.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In Jamaica, the West Indies - bidding to become the first host to win cricket's World Cup - face Kenya in their opening warm-up at the Trelawny Stadium. It's a game that will trigger memories - not so pleasant - among Caribbean cricket fans. For eleven years ago, lowly Kenya pulled off one of the great upsets in the history of cricket by beating West Indies by 73 runs in the first round of the World Cup hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Other teams on the north coast this week for the warm-up phase are India - one of the favourites to win the tournament - and the Netherlands who, like the Kenyans are striving to build a reputation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>When the real competition begins next week, the West Indies will be joined by another "big side" - Pakistan - as well as Ireland and Zimbabwe in Zone D involving six first round games at Sabina Park. Yet another game, a semi-final, will be played on April 24 at Sabina Park as the competition draws close to its climax, the grand final in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 28.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Obviously, Jamaicans and West Indians generally will be focused on the cricket. They will be hoping and praying that the West Indies team gets at least to the semi-final stage. It is a hope that is based on substance, given the fine performance by the Caribbean in reaching the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in India late last year. Remember that the West Indies were actually defending their title after shocking the cricketing world by winning two years earlier in England.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But cricket apart, Jamaicans will be keeping their fingers crossed for Mr Martin Lewis and his team who will mastermind the opening ceremony at the Trelawny Stadium next Sunday. To be watched by a televised audience estimated at close to two billion, the event will be a cultural spectacle, showcasing Jamaica and the Caribbean - the likes of which has rarely, if ever, been seen in the English-speaking Caribbean.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, the opening ceremony for cricket's World Cup is meant to provide "a feel good" effect for the duration of the tournament.
Chief Organiser of the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2003, Ali Bacher, perhaps said it best when he visited Jamaica just over two years ago.
Said he: "If the launch is not good, you will never retrieve the situation."<P class=StoryText align=justify>It all means that Mr Lewis and his team - with a limited budget and limited preparation time - will have to get it right.
Naturally, we wish them well and we have no apologies for saying that in this tournament, we're rallying 'round the West Indies.

[Karl]

RE: Rally 'round the West Indies

Gamma and other cricket lovers: Where on the web can we watch the opening ceremony?

[Karl]

RE: Rally 'round the West Indies

Cricket lovers: Do you know of this site?

http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/

[Karl]

RE: Rally 'round the West Indies

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Let the games begin!</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>PM says country on show, urges J'cans to impress the world</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>
Monday, March 05, 2007
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>After four years of nervous planning, billions of dollars in spending, controversy over the cost and dire predictions of disaster if preparations are not completed on time, the first warm-up match of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 bowls off today in Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The spanking new multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny on the island's scenic north coast is host to the historic game which pits the West Indies against African minnows, Kenya.
Staging the World Cup, the world's third largest international sporting competition, will represent a major test for Jamaica, which is hosting the tournament jointly with seven other Caribbean territories.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=330 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>SIMPSON MILLER. has always bat for CWC 2007 (Observer file photo) </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>In its most massive mobilisation of personnel for a single event, Jamaica has put 3,000 men, women and children at the disposal of the International Cricket Council-sponsored event.
Last night, in a national broadcast, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who is in Europe on official business, implored Jamaicans to rise to the test and to impress the world with true Jamaican hospitality.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Beautify the place with your presence. Show them the real Jamaican personality, warm, friendly, humorous, peaceful and gracious," she said. "We will be rolling out the welcome mat to the 16 teams from the participating countries, officials and cricketing fans from around the world.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Visitors and Jamaicans in the Diaspora have started to come in for the event. Sabina Park is ready, the multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny is ready," said Simpson Miller.
Vowing that Jamaicans would impress the world with the quality of the arrangements for the World Cup, Simpson Miller, who is also the minister of sports, said over 1,000 volunteers had been trained and geared up for the event.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"The 1,100 rooms needed to accommodate teams, officials, media and sponsors are in place. Ninety-six JUTC drivers have been specially trained and are ready to transport patrons to and from the venues. A medical master plan is in place," disclosed Simpson Miller.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Security arrangements are tight. Some 730 security personnel have been specially trained for the event. There are comprehensive contingency plans designed to deal with any eventuality.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Clean-up and beautification work is ongoing. A star-studded cast is getting ready to present a spectacular and impressive opening ceremony on March 11," Simpson Miller said.
Robert Bryan, the man who heads the Local Organising Committee (LOC), boasted that as many as 2,045 cast members had been in preparation for months for the opening ceremony billed as "a Pan Caribbean-flavoured spectacle". A total of 1,600 participants between ages 15 and early 20s will be featured in the ceremony.<P class=StoryText align=justify>With no security details being spared in the post-9/11 period, a Joint Operations Co-ordination Centre (JOCC) went into action on March 1, planning for any eventuality, the official Jamaica Information Service (JIS) said.
The JOCC headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, is at the ready to mobilise agencies such as the police, military, fire brigade, traffic and intelligence to rise to any thre

[Mosiah]

RE: Rally 'round the West Indies

Why should I? When the captain and the rest of the team can't even acknowledge their supporters upon arrival at the airport?!?! Don't think so!

[MdmeX]

RE: Rally 'round the West Indies

Mosiah (3/5/2007)Why should I? When the captain and the rest of the team can't even acknowledge their supporters upon arrival at the airport?!?! Don't think so!

You tell them Mo - without them supporters dem DOOMED(Tant)