“Cricket, Glorious Cricket!”* – Trinidad and Tobago prepares to host ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

Preparations are already underway on the island of Trinidad, where thousands of cricket enthusiasts will be heading for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in March. Trinidad will host the Group B matches at the historic Queen’s Park Oval and warm-up matches at the University of the West Indies Sports and Physical Education Complex (UWI SPEC) from March 5-25, 2007.

Trinidad and Tobago’s love for cricket is cultivated early, with youngsters playing “friendly” games on dirt roads, playgrounds and beaches – balls are of course wind balls as opposed to the professional cork; bats may be crude pieces of wood, but the enthusiasm for the game and the adrenaline it provides are all the same. All of Trinidad and Tobago’s residents, young and old, along with visitors from all over the world are united under a common love for the sport, as the island prepares to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 games.

Trinidad and Tobago will host eight of the participating 16 Cricket World Cup teams, including South Africa, Ireland, Pakistan, Canada, Sri Lanka, Bermuda, India and Bangladesh. The UWI SPEC will stage four of the warm-up matches, March 5-9, 2007, including: South Africa vs. Ireland; Pakistan vs. Canada; Ireland vs. Canada; and Pakistan vs. South Africa. The Queen’s Park Oval will host the first-stage Group B matches from March 15-25, 2007, including: Sri Lanka vs. Bermuda; India vs. Bangladesh; India vs. Bermuda; Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh; India vs. Sri Lanka; and Bermuda vs. Bangladesh.

“We are honored to have been chosen as one of the host countries for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, as we demonstrate our skills of modern sport management to advance our status as an excellent sport tourism destination to the international arena,” said Dr. James Hepple, President and Director of Tourism, Tourism Development Company.

The island of Trinidad and Tobago is expected to receive between 7,000 to 8,000 cricket fans. The Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC) will be working in conjunction with the Cricket World Cup organization (CWC) to actively pursue a viable bed and breakfast program to accommodate demands for reasonably-priced accommodations. A variety of properties ranging from private villas to guest houses and hotels will also be available to visitors in Trinidad. For those wishing to stay in neighboring Tobago, a special ferry shuttle service will be available to transport them to the games. A park and ride system will also transport fans from the various stadiums to Queen’s Park Oval.

Trinidad and Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With their careful approach to tourism, Trinidad and Tobago offers one of the last absolutely unspoiled Caribbean destinations. Trinidad is home to the world famous Carnival, the birth of the steel pan drum, and Nobel Prize winning author, V.S. Naipaul. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, charming hotels and smart new resorts.