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CARIBBEAN: Islands gear up for the Cricket World Cup

The Associated Press

October 8, 2006

Cranes pivot above the modest Bridgetown, Barbados, skyline as they transform one of the Caribbean's oldest cricket grounds into a sleek, modern stadium - the premier venue for the region's first Cricket World Cup, to be held there March 11-April 28.

Local fans will be rooting for the West Indies team to reach the championship match at the expanded Kensington Oval in April. But with more than 100,000 visitors expected for the largest sporting event ever held in the region, Barbados and the eight other host countries have much more at stake.

To convert the spotlight into new investment and tourism, they are racing to finish construction on 12 stadiums, bridge a massive housing gap and fine-tune coordination across sovereign islands.

The tiny host countries, spread across the Caribbean, faced doubts they would have facilities ready by the opening ceremony. With six months to go, organizers say venues for tournament matches are on schedule in Barbados and seven other countries - Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Grenada, Trinidad and Guyana. Only Trinidad's new Brian Lara Stadium, one of the four stadiums hosting warm-up matches, is several months behind schedule.

A mystery to many in the United States, 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.

Down the road from Kensington, the center of Barbados' seaside capital is getting a face-lift, 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.

The event is expected to attract 100,000 visitors to see 16 teams play matches. Pre-

tournament matches are March 2-9.

Cricket World Cup

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