Don Lockerbie, ICC venue development director. -FileICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Venue Development Director, Donald Lockerbie, has reminded staffers and others working on the tournament that - despite the countdown to the opening ceremony on March 11 - they really just about 50 days to go to the World Cup!
The 16 participating nations will start arriving in the Caribbean on March 2. Then warm-up matches start on March 5 in Barbados, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.
"The opening ceremony has been CWC's traditional landmark for counting down but we all know we must be ready long before that. Less than two months from today we want to be saying 'well done to Barbados, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago' as they will be the first to represent Cricket World Cup and the Caribbean on the international stage. They will set the tone.
"Even before that though, players and fans will be in our midst and we must do everything we can to ensure they receive an excellent welcome and a positive start to their (Cricket) World Cup experience. The media too are extremely important and we want them to be raving about the quality of our stadia and the detailed planning," said Lockerbie, in a message to CWC staff, the Local Organising Committees and various contractors.
In this regard, he counselled all CWC-related personnel not to squander any time as there's still "so much to do".
"We are almost there, but we cannot afford to get sidetracked or complacent or be patting ourselves on the back at this stage. CWC has set a standard of excellence throughout and we must keep pace with that high level of operation and output -leave nothing to chance. The region is depending on us and the world is looking at us," declared the venue development director.
In concluding his message, Lockerbie called on each person associated with ICC CWC 2007 to reflect on the importance of their role and consider how they can further rise to the occasion.
"This is the time to make every second count. The game is on!"
