CWC park-n-ride, parking tickets on sale from Monday
Stabroek News
March 17, 2007
Park-and-Ride and Parking tickets for the Guyana National Stadium at Provi-dence go on sale from Monday at a cost of $1,000 at the Guyana Local Organising Committee office, Middle Street and other places to be announced.
LOC Chief Executive Officer Karan Singh told the media yesterday owners of motor vehicles would be required to display their passes for the particular matches they would be attending prominently, or they would not gain access to the car park or the stadium.
When the Super Eight matches start in Guyana on March 28, persons using the Park-and-Ride system from Georgetown would be shuttled from the National Cultural Centre tarmac to the stadium and those from Linden and the upper East Bank Demerara would be shuttled to the stadium from the Diamond Community Centre Ground.
The logistics, including the schedule for the Park-and-Ride shuttles, would be announced soon, Singh said.
He said the car park between Buddy's Interna-tional Hotel and the stadium, which is expected to accommodate 2,500 cars would be completed by March 23.
And beginning Monday, the LOC would begin to issue permits to owners of motor vehicles living in the seven communities near to the stadium. The seven communities are Bagotstown, Republic Park, Nandy Park, Provi-dence, Continental Park, Peter's Hall and Greenfield Park.
Singh said the East Bank Demerara would be closed to heavy vehicular traffic (trucks, containers, trailers) on match days from 8 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 8 pm. On the four-lane highway, only vehicles going to the stadium would use the eastern carriageway. Those vehicles must prominently display the stickers, which would give them access.
No parking would be allowed between the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Greenfield Park on match days. Neither would any vehicles be allowed to stop on the road between the Houston Bridge and Greenfield Park.
Meanwhile, the stadium has begun to take on a festive look with venue graphics. Official sponsors are putting up their symbols; GL Events is setting up tents and other temporary facilities required for the hosting of the world third largest sporting event.
Singh noted that there would be some inconvenience for commuters and pedestrians but it was all a matter of security for the world-rated event.
The ICC CWC West Indies Inc, he noted, has relaxed its restriction on water in plastic bottles, and these can now be taken to matches for the purposes of hydrating because of the humid and hot weather that the region is currently experiencing. However, persons would not be able to take in large quantities of water for any commercial purpose. Water vending machines would also be set up around the stadium.
Singh reiterated the need for persons to familiarize themselves with the restricted and prohibited items.
He noted that persons could take their own food but not in picnic baskets. Food containers have to be collapsible and of 12 inches in width, length and depth. KFC and Pizza Hut would have booths selling their fare and there would be other vendors selling local food.
Patrons, he noted, would be allowed to move under the concourse of the stadium where food and drinks would be sold.
Yesterday, while Singh met the media at the stadium, a number of finishing touches were being put to the facilities. The numbering of seats has begun. The televisions would all be in place by Monday. The video replay screen, which would be close to the scoreboard, would be installed closer to the first match day.
Official overlay supplier for Cricket World Cup 2007, GL Events has taken over the site to carry out preparatory works, which include setting up a number of temporary facilities including tents.
The France-based GL Events, with offices in several countries has some 20 managers/project managers, 15 site foremen and 300 site workers.
(Miranda La Rose)