India, China, Taiwan prop up Windies World Cup preparation

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) Under pressure to meet the deadline and live upto the expectations, organisers of next year's World Cup in the West Indies found friends-in-need in India, China and Taiwan in their race against time to get the venues ready in little more than seven months.

Managing Director and CEO of the ICC World Cup 2007 Chris Dehring allayed fears that the organisers were runnings behind schedule and expressed gratitude to the comrade-in-arms from India, China and Taiwan for working overtime to get the venues ready before time.

''I can assure you that our operation is going full-steam ahead and ticketing has started in May, with demands from more than 100 countries, have arranged a single visa system for the visitors and there is no worry with the venues as well,'' he told reporters after unveiling the logo and mascot ''Mello'' in the capital last night.

''We are building 12 brand new stadiums and 20 practice facilities. Two years ago, when we made the announcement, it was accepted with a fair bit of scepticism but the same scepticism has turned into appreciation now,'' he claimed.

Thanking partners in the construction works, Mr Dehring said, ''With assistance from the Chinese government, we are building the 25,000-capacity Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica for the opening ceremony while you would have a totally furbished Sabina Park there, courtesy an Israeli constructon company. We have built a new stadium, the Warner Park, at St Kitts and built it from scratch. The Beausejour Stadium in the beautiful St Lucia will stage the semifinals and the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago has been refurbished with help from the Taiwan government.

''In Antigua, we are building Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, befitting to the person it's named after and we are thankful to the Chinese government for their assistance. The Providence Stadium in Guyana is almost complete, while Kensington Oval in Barbados is the perfect venue for the final,'' he remarked.

''But I would like to specially refer to the Queen's Park Oval in Grenada, for it epitomises the West Indian spirit and determination to survive any disaster. Eighteen months ago, Hurricane Ivan ravaged the area. We lost 90 per cent houses there. The cricket and football stadiums were ravaged, hotels were destroyed and everyone said Grenada is out of the fray. Thanks to the character of the people, they are back on their feet and with little assistance from China, we have defied all odds ,'' he added.

Mr Dehring also allayed fears about accommodation and said, ''Our tourism processes 21 million people every year and we do have arrangements for the visitors.'' Asked about the pitches in the newly-buit stadiums, the World Cup official assured the tracks would be tested well before the event.

''In fact, some of the pitches have already been tested when we hosted India. Other tracks would be tested in July-August and we plan to have the finest collection of pitches and outfield in the West Indies,'' he added.

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