CATEGORY:SPORTS(CRICKET)
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada correspondent
Saturday November 25,2006


ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - The Grenada Government has assured the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the country will be more than ready for its quota of matches in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

An ICC Inspection Team, which visited the country some time ago, was impressed with Grenada’s build up to the world cup. However, it said that there is still some work to be accomplished with the job being 85 to 90 percent complete at the moment.

A ring road around the stadium, the beautification and the overlays for media accreditation and catering are among the avenues needed to have the facility 100% ready for Grenada’s quota of matches. Nonetheless, ICC Cricket World Cup officials said that they were impressed with the country’s build up to the world cup and are confident that the Spice Isle will do a good job of hosting its matches.

Minister of Sports, Hon. Roland Bhola, said that he was always confident of such a response from the inspection team, because work on the country’s preparations has been intensified over the past months.

“In the next week we will be signing contracts for construction of the ring road around the stadium and the beautification of the facility. We want to leave a legacy and create a world class facility”, the Sports Minister said.
He indicated that efforts are also underway to have people in the various communities clean and beautify their surroundings and make the country more inviting and attractive to the visitors, who will be forced to return for a holiday after the world cup.

Bhola is wholeheartedly behind the slang that “Grenada will Rock for the World Cup. “We will host our six matches in style.” The Local Cricket Organizing Committee for Cricket World Cup is expecting an influx of approximately 15,000 people for the six matches here from April 10-20. This seems quite in line with local caterers, who say that they are preparing to feed about 90,000 people during the period.

“Things are going well accommodation wise. More and more people are still
getting into the Home Stay Programme and many of the Hotels have expanded. New villas and apartments are also being built”, the minister said. He also indicated that Grenada will be acquiring the services of a tourist liner to be used as a floating hotel during the matches. “We will have room for everyone”, he said.

The Home Stay Programme was launched earlier in the year specifically to boost room stock for the World Cup. Interested persons were given duty free concessions and other assistance by the government for the programme. The original plan was to have at least 1,000 rooms. However, the tally in recent times has been 1200 and climbing. Officials are also expecting more than 2000 Hotel rooms will be ready for the world cup. In all it is estimated that some 5,000 rooms will be needed.