Fears of delays in the US$69 million (euro54 million) Kensington Oval, which
was demolished to increase seating capacity from 16,000 to 28,000, led the
country's prime minister, Owen Arthur, to take personal responsibility for World
Cup preparations. He promised early this year to "move heaven and earth" to get
the island ready.
Today spongy grass carpets the new field, remodeled as a near perfect circle
but slightly oblong to preserve the name of the stadium,home to the Pickwick
Cricket Club since 1882. Designed for its Caribbean setting, the stadium has
underground tanks to drain thousands of gallons of rainwater during tropical
downpours, and the roof will have translucent panels to soften the shade's
contrast with the bright sun.
Cricket has major followings in Europe, Asia, and Australia,as well as the
former British colonies of the Caribbean. Children play with homemade bats and
wickets in dirt patches across Barbados, one of the countries contributing
players to a West Indies team seeking its first World Cup title since winning
the tournament in 1975 and 1979.
The host countries see their new facilities as national centerpieces that
will host concerts, community events and other tournaments well beyond the 2007
Cricket World Cup. Visiting fans, they hope, will return as tourists.
Down the road from Kensington, the center of Barbados' seaside capital is
getting a facelift, with a restored boardwalk and a new central park.
Renovations to the airport, national roadways and other infrastructure have been
fast-tracked to finish by the tournament.
Limited by small industrial bases, the islands with populations under 100,000
in some cases have had to look for outside help to fuel the construction boom.
About 500 Chinese laborers are working to rebuild Grenada's National Stadium,
which was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Beijing, which is sharing the
cost of the project, is also a partner in the construction of Jamaica's new
stadium and contributed US$20 million (euro16 million) to build Antigua's
facility on the condition that Chinese labor was used. India is a partner in
Guyana's new Providence Stadium, providing labor and funding.
A cement shortage hit the Caribbean this year as demand surged, forcing
governments to seek supplies from countries including Venezuela, Colombia, and
Cuba. "Political leaders and others rose to the occasion," Lockerbie said.
Despite the construction of several new hotels, the region is still well
short of having enough beds available for the fans expected during what is
already the high tourism season. Barbados, an island of 280,000 people with
9,000 hotel beds, is expecting 30,000 visitors at any one time during the
tournament.
Cruise ships booked by sports tourism companies for Australian, South African
and other fans will take up some slack. As many as 15 of the ships are expected
to dock or anchor off Barbados the weekend of the final April 28.
Several countries are encouraging citizens to convert their homes to bed and
breakfasts. In Guyana, the only South American host country, organizers are
planning to set up tents and camps to house some of the expected 25,000
visitors.
Organizers call the housing gap a "good crisis."
"That's the passion of cricket that's going to bring them," Lockerbie said.
"I think all of our countries are getting prepared for just about anything."
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