Published on March 02, 2007
Caribbean NetNews
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Security and infrastructure requirements are under review at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium as the start of ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches in St Kitts and Nevis is less than two weeks away.
In order to prepare the stadium for the event, 6,000 temporary seats have been added, tent villages and fan zones have been erected and a temporary media box has been constructed. The extra media facility was added to accommodate the large number of foreign press expected. The original media box is set up to facilitate radio and television broadcast.
The Chief Operating Officer and Venue Development Director of the CWC 2007, Don Lockerbie, is in St Kitts to conduct a system test. “We want to make sure that the PA (public address) system, the scoreboards and video boards and the CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) and the air conditioning and others are finished and working,” he said. The cricket stadium was handed over to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on February 19. Mr. Lockerbie indicated that the work should be completed next week, which allows volunteers, security, and other relevant personnel to practice their roles for match day on the week leading up to the premiere cricket event.
Meanwhile, 60 private security officers completed training for the event on Thursday.
Police Inspector Cromwell Henry told SKNIS that ICC requirements dictate that at least 250 security personnel must be operating within the stadium during games and intense training sessions have been held regularly to prepare the officials for the event.
Topics covered during training include customer care and service, awareness of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), conflict resolution, basic fire awareness and emergency evacuation.
Due to the strict advertising regulations, clothing and products branded with companies not affiliated the ICC CWC 2007 will not be allowed onto the grounds during games. The general public is asked to pay special attention to this detail. Clothing or products bearing the mark of unrelated companies such as Hilfiger, Nike, Gap, G-Unit, Old Navy, Fubu, Digicel and the like cannot be featured in the stadium. Articles bearing the logo/name of Pepsi, Cable and Wireless, Johnny Walker, Hero, Honda and other official sponsors will be permissible
Persons are encouraged to get tickets as soon as possible. Defending champions Australia and the top ranked One Day International (ODI) team South Africa will be based in St. Kitts for the first round. Team Scotland and the Netherlands will also play here. Tickets are available at the CWC ticket office at the Sands Complex.