TODAY signals the start of a big week in the planning process for Cricket World Cup 2007. A series of top-level meetings and workshops involving foreign consultants begins in Barbados and run until next week Tuesday. International Cricket Council Cricket WorldCup 2007 Inc. (ICC CWC) will hold a three-dayoverlay meeting starting on Wednesday with representatives of the local organising committees (LOCs) of the eight countries awarded matches. Key among the discussions will be venue development and stadium issues, including the plight of Grenada following the widespread damage to the Queen’s Park Stadium during the passage of Hurricane Ivan two months ago. Friday was the deadline for each venue to have overlay plans ready before submission to the ICC for final approval. The designs addressed in detail the permanent and temporary structures and facilities that will be put in place including media facilities, camera positions, catering facilities, parking and lighting. ICC CWC 2007 Inc. managing director Chris Dehring will also meet with the chief executive officers of the LOCs today. These sessions follow a meeting of the board of directors in St Lucia over the weekend. World Cup Barbados Inc. will also intensify its preparations for the third largest sporting event in the world, and the biggest event in the Caribbean with a series of workshops. From today until Thursday there will be risk management workshops which will have the presence of foreign consultants in an effort to implement a system to manage risks for events of this magnitude. The workshops will be attended by a host of sector teams, including security, medical services, transport, cricket operations, team logistics, and accommodation, among others. From Friday until next week Tuesday, there will be workshops on the design development of Kensington Oval. These workshops will involve engineers, architects and planning companies. SOURCE: NATIONNEWS.COM