St. Lucia Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO, Ernest Hilaire (left), speaks to the media following the meeting to update the new St. Lucian government on preparations for ICC CWC 2007. At right is ICC CWC 2007 Chairman, Kenneth Gordon, while St Lucia's Minister of Sports, Lennard Montoute, is at centre. - Contributed

The organisers of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. will be working to ensure that the March 11 to April 28 tournament is free of racist behaviour or abuse.

In a release, ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. said tournament organisers, in keeping with the new ICC Anti-Racism Code - unanimously approved by the international body last November - will be working in conjunction with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which is an ICC full member and host of the event, to implement the code in accordance with ICC guidelines.

Guide formatted

CWC's Event Management Department (EMD), along with the nine Local Organising Committees (LOCs), will take the lead in match-day implementation - putting in place various policies and measures to highlight the code.

"A guide has been provided by ICC for successful implemen-tation of the code and we propose to follow that. There will be signs at all points of entry and at the public information booths to remind spectators that racially abusive behaviour is not acceptable. In addition, match day staff will be vigilant and will report any incidences of racist behaviour in line with the code to the relevant authorities," explained manager of CWC's EMD, Trudy Clark.

Another critical feature of the plan is to make sure all CWC personnel and contractors are briefed on the code.

"Everyone associated with Cricket World Cup needs to familiarise themselves with the document, so they know what will and will not be tolerated. All LOCs have already been provided the code and it has been sent to CWC's official tour and travel operator - Cricket Logistics - so they can forward it to the OTAs (Official Travel Agents).

Sensitisation

"CWC will be using various workshops, training sessions and directorate meetings, between now and tournament time, to continue this staff sensitisation process. CWC does not anticipate any difficulty in getting the messaging across because, as (CWC's Managing Director) Chris Dehring has already noted, racism is not a part of Caribbean culture - and this event will show that to the world," said Clark.

WICB Corporate Secretary, Tony Deyal, underlined the board's support for the code, stating that "WICB is pleased it has been enforced and will be in use during the tournament."

Furthermore, he disclosed that, following CWC 2007, WICB will be responsible for implementing the code and will do so vigor-ously.

"WICB is fully supportive of this policy and we will be working with all stakeholders in West Indies cricket, especially the territorial boards, to ensure strict adherence to it," said Deyal.