- CONTRIBUTED
The national colours of Jamaica will adorn the new Trelawny multi-purpose stadium. Bucket seats in the north stand are being placed in the pattern of the country's flag.
Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE NEW multi-purpose stadium in Florence Hall, Trelawny, which is slated to host the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, is now in an advanced state of readiness as seats are now being installed and the roofing is near completion.
"The first shipment of seats came into the island at the end of June and they are now being installed within the North Stand," said Christopher Smith, the venue development manager at the Trelawny facility. "The seats are comfortable 'bucket seats' and the combination of colours and their arrangements will be pleasing to the eyes."
According to Smith, when the installation of the 10,000 multicoloured seats, which will meet the seating needs in the permanent North and South stands, is completed, it will depict the shape of the Jamaica flag with its black, green and gold colours.
A second shipment of seats is slated to arrive at the venue later this month. Two temporary stands will be erected to complement the two permanent stands.
WORK WELL ADVANCED
In so far as the roofing at the stadium is concerned, Smith said work was taking place around the clock to ensure that all the areas that are to be covered are completed by the end of this month.
"We are well advanced," said Smith, who in early June stated that a major push was being made to put in all the roofing ahead of the hurricane season.
"Our contractors are working around the clock to ensure completion on schedule at the end of July," he said.
The playing surface, which drew praise from an ICC pitch and field inspection team, which visited the facility, is lush green and seem ready to host cricket. In fact, the ground staff has given the venue the green light to host matches.
"The experts were well pleased with the progress and gave good ratings to the field and pitch," Oniel Cruickshank, cricket operations manager at the Jamaica Local Organising Committee (LOC) for World Cup 2007, said.
"We are awaiting the arrival of two pieces of equipment to enhance the work that is presently taking place. Within a couple weeks, we want to start playing some cricket there."
Before the World Cup's official opening ceremony slated for March 11, the new facility will host a series of warm-up games.
