Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Rousseau

Pat Rousseau, the former president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the man who won the region's bid to host next year's World Cup tournament, is a worried man.

According to the distinguished attorney, the West Indies have gone overboard in preparing for the World Cup, in building for the World Cup, that he wonders if the tournament, as far as its legacy is concerned, will be a burden or a benefit.

Speaking at the Melbourne Cricket Club's annual awards dinner at Courtney Walsh Drive on Saturday night, Rousseau made reference to a statement made by Chris Dehring earlier this week when the head of the ICC CWC World Cup 2007 committee stated at the end of an inspection tour of the venues that when "we unveil these stadia in 2007 the entire world will acclaim the Caribbean because there is no cricketing country that has 12 such fantastic stadiums", and then asked a question.

"The object of a legacy as I understand it is to create lasting value for the post World Cup experience, but because of the over-building, I have to ask, have we created a burden or a benefit."

According to Rousseau, who told the gathering that the average attendance at matches during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa was some 9,500 fans, and that the average attendance for Test matches at Sabina Park is some 6,000 people, the stadiums are too large, and none more so than the one at Sabina Park which has been expanded to seat 18,000 fans with an overall capacity of 22,000 to 24,000.

After informing the gathering that The Oval in London has just recently gone up to 22,000 despite a catchment area much larger than the population of Jamaica, Rousseau went on to say: "I doubt we will ever see Sabina Park filled even for the World Cup semi-final and certainly not afterwards at any Test match or One-day International.

"I am sure we will not see a paying audience larger than 14,000 for many years post - the World Cup," said Rousseau, who went on to say that the committee probably did not think of the maintenance cost which has been increased substantially and which cannot be met by revenue from the international matches played there each year.

Apart from the disappointment that the cricket stadiums have been built more like football stadiums with the fans removed from the field and the players thus affecting the atmosphere, Rousseau's biggest disappointment was the building of the new stadium in Trelawny.

"Trelawny will have its "Green Elephant" as a continuous reminder of the folly of the Government in building two stadiums and ending up with the worst package given out by the West Indies Cricket Board. The cost of maintaining this facility along with the costs of repaying the loan will be a burden on the taxpayer for a long time to come.

"I have criticised Trelawny from the outset and nothing has changed. I will continue to describe it as a colossal waste of money that was not based on cricket needs."

According to Rousseau, when he and his Board members made their bid for the World Cup, there were four objectives: to put on display to the world, the West Indies and its people and their achievements other than cricket; to create a sense of pride among West Indians by delivering a first-class event; to improve the cricket venues; and to leave a cash legacy of US$60 million dollars for West Indies cricket.

Although Rousseau said that he is confident that through television the first objective will be realised, and that the West Indies will put on a first-class event in high class venues, he was doubtful that the cash legacy will be possible.

"That target was the charge given to Chris Dehring by the committee that met with him to work out his remuneration package after the board had appointed him to manage the World Cup, we came up with that figure after looking at the two previous World Cup tournaments, and it was a fair and reasonable target."

According to Rousseau, he is now hearing that the maximum surplus will be around US$20 million, and even that figure is shrinking.

When one looks at things like the large sums spent on the Venue Assessment programme which ended up a waste of money, and although the Governments are the long term beneficiaries, at the fact that the West Indies Cricket or the World Cup body committed itself to make payments to the Governments towards the cost of preparing for the Wold Cup, "I think a fair amount of money has been wasted", said Rousseau.