T20 World Cup Kensington prep on target

Preparations to upgrade Kensington Oval for the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup finals are on target, Sports Minister Charles Griffith has confirmed.

In a press conference at his ministry’s headquarters in Haggatt Hall on Friday, he also stressed that the $50 million loan Barbados secured from the African Import-Export Bank last year to refurbish the storied stadium was being spent appropriately. The loan will also fund improvements to the facilities at the 3Ws Oval, Windward Cricket Club and Police Cricket Club where practice matches are to take place, he added.

“Barbados is in a ready position in terms of staging this particular event. Now we are aware that the window as it relates to preparation for this event is one that is a lot shorter than what obtained in the previous World Cups. However, the government is within the necessary resources that we believe are required to make this event an absolute success, not only for the country but… what is capable of happening within the region.

“And the $50 million that persons have referred to in terms of the spend is not only $50 million that is being allocated to upgrade Kensington Oval. Those of you who would pass the locations that are to be used for the practice matches would see that infrastructure work is being done at those particular locations to ready them for the teams that are coming to practise as well.”

The minister said he could not give a “ball-by-ball update” on the works in progress but told reporters that an entertainment manager and a “security process” are in place. He added that the tournament’s national organising committee were exploring an arrangement with taxi drivers “to ensure that the best product is put on the table”, though he did not elaborate.

“I think we are ahead of the curve, so to speak, in relation to the preparation process,” Griffith told reporters. “The committees are meeting on a weekly basis. Updates will be provided also on a weekly basis in relation to this. Not only updates in terms of updating themselves, but updates will come to the government in relation to the status so that if there’s any troubleshooting, then that we know prior to how we should address whatever issues that are coming.”

More than 20 000 people are expected to visit Barbados for the T20 World Cup, to be staged from June 1-29. Among global concerns over supply chain bottlenecks, the minister was asked what measures would be put in place to ensure there is enough food on the island to meet domestic and tourist demand.

He replied: “The truth is that the National Organising Committee is looking at every single thing that can impact this work up. And when I say everything, I mean every single thing that can impact it. So measures are being put in place to ensure that if it is perceived that we’re gonna have difficulty in relation to that, that they will do whatever is necessary to put measures in place to short circuit that.

“I was not exaggerating at all when I said to you that they’re on top of their game, they really are on top of their game in terms of the preparation for this, and everything is being put in place. Government is supporting, obviously, to the max to ensure that we have something that we can be proud of.”

Griffith also announced that his ministry would be establishing a national volunteer programme for members of the public to contribute their time to the cricket tournament, the third such sporting event to be held here.

He added that the programme would be reinstated as needed in the future to help with other international events of a similar scale.

Would-be volunteers were urged to contact the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment to join the programme.

“I believe that if all of us come together to make this a reality, then the success would be the same if not bigger than what transpired in 2007 and 2010,” the minister said.

Manager of sports at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. Kamal Springer told reporters that 200 international journalists are expected here to cover the World Cup, as part of the ICC’s contingent.

During the stay, international media would be treated to tours and other activities to get a taste of the authentic tourism product Barbados had to offer, the BTMI official said.

“Barbados will be hosting the very first ICC Media Hub, a ground-breaking initiative,” Springer declared. “The destination is poised to receive extensive exposure from this. These journalists will serve as ambassadors, transmitting their first-hand experiences of Barbados and its captivating sights to their audiences worldwide.”

He also touted a bonanza for small business people from the tournament.

Planned fringe events include ten watch parties hosted across the island, offering benefits to some communities, said the BTMI official.

The minister and the tourism official expressed optimism for the T20 World Cup’s legacy to Barbados: a reputation of having the capacity to host such large-scale global events and a relationship with a plethora of stakeholders that could be partnered with in the future to host similar events.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb