Wednesday, March 07, 2007
It's here
This week CWC 07 finally came to the Caribbean. Here in St Vincent our warm up games got underway on Monday with the very one-sided England/ Bermuda clash.
I am still a bit worried, however, about the wisdom of spending so much money on mere warm up games given the state of our economy, but that is what cynics like myself do. We wonder if even in the long-run we will be able to recoup the costs or at least a significant part. $40 millon or $57 million ECD, depending on the source is an awful lot of money spent on a sport that seems to be in its death throes. In addition, Regional Limited Overs semis and final were played to virtually empty stands.
So far,not surprisingly the crowds have been sparse but all that should change when England and Australia play on Friday. Well,that is if the restrictions do not serve to turn off patrons. Judging by callers to the talk shows many are turned off by the restrictions on iceboxes, security details, permission to take conch shells and the quietness of the ground.This morning I even heard a woman complaining bitterly that she won't be able to celebrate 6's and 4's the West Indian way. Somehow,I don't think even the ICC is strong enough to prevent the jumping up etc but she remains convinced.
As for me, I'll hear how it all went or see from the comfort of my house.
I am still a bit worried, however, about the wisdom of spending so much money on mere warm up games given the state of our economy, but that is what cynics like myself do. We wonder if even in the long-run we will be able to recoup the costs or at least a significant part. $40 millon or $57 million ECD, depending on the source is an awful lot of money spent on a sport that seems to be in its death throes. In addition, Regional Limited Overs semis and final were played to virtually empty stands.
So far,not surprisingly the crowds have been sparse but all that should change when England and Australia play on Friday. Well,that is if the restrictions do not serve to turn off patrons. Judging by callers to the talk shows many are turned off by the restrictions on iceboxes, security details, permission to take conch shells and the quietness of the ground.This morning I even heard a woman complaining bitterly that she won't be able to celebrate 6's and 4's the West Indian way. Somehow,I don't think even the ICC is strong enough to prevent the jumping up etc but she remains convinced.
As for me, I'll hear how it all went or see from the comfort of my house.
Labels: CWC 07, St Vincent
