By Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announces venue plans for the ICC CWC 2007 WI tournament, during a Press Conference on the Jamaica House grounds yesterday. Seated to his right is Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Wayne Reid. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
ALL SIXTEEN countries participating in the ICC CWC 2007 WI will converge on the parish of Trelawny for the Opening Ceremony of cricket's showpiece event.
So says Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who told journalists at a press conference held at Jamaica House yesterday that the proposal to build a facility at Greenfield will come to fruition.
"After very careful consideration and analysis we have come to the conclusion that it would be most appropriate to stage the opening ceremony and the warm up matches in one and the same place and we have chosen the Trelawny Greenfield to be that site."
Jamaica did not bid for the package which contained the opening ceremony but found themselves in a precarious position when it was announced that the country will be responsible for kick-starting the World Cup.
The idea of using Sabina Park to host the opening ceremony was quickly ruled out due to ICC regulations which prevents the opening ceremony from being held where tournament games are played.
The local organising committee also looked at the possibility of using the National Stadium instead. However, Patterson said this was thrown out because it would have required making adjustments to the physical structure of the Stadium, adjustments which would have resulted in the closure of the nation's premier sporting facility.
WARM-UP GAMES
"Since we would not be able to play the warm-up matches at the Stadium, we would have to identify some other facility elsewhere and provide the requirement for the hosting of warm-up games or lose the right to those warm up games," Patterson added.
Jamaica is guaranteed at least four warm up games, which will most likely include matches with its West Indies host team as they will play their opening group matches here at Sabina Park.
"...The warm-up matches will take place there and that means, immediately we have got to prepare the pitches. That imposes very special demands on what we ... will be required to do and we have to get them ready by 2006."
Meanwhile, as it relates to the building of Greenfield itself, Patterson said the opening of tenders for the contract will be done in short order and by year-end there will be signs of 'Work in Progress' at the site.
"Very soon the experts from the Jamaica Cricket Association will be going to Greenfield not only to identify the best location for the wicket but to begin the preparatory efforts.
"We are going to be starting the site works surrounding the Greenfield as soon as we have examined the best design and look at the tenders that have been submitted to us... By the end of the year there will be visible signs of work in progress at Greenfield," the Prime Minister said.
