St Kitts and Nevis are basking in the glory of hosting the World Cup even if it means finding themselves at the center of a high-stakes, geo-political game.
The Warner Park Stadium, which will stage matches involving world champions Australia as well as world No. 1 South Africa, was built with a US$12 million donation from Taiwan who are battling to maintain their regional influence which is slowly being eaten away by the Chinese.
China has ploughed millions of dollars into the new stadia in Grenada, Antigua and Jamaica.
PHOTO: AFP
Taiwan, desperate to maintain its political alliances in the Caribbean, responded by financing the venue here as well as the warm-up facilities on St Vincent.
"On behalf of the government I thank Taiwan for their support in making this venue ready," said Denzil Douglas, the prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis. "We look forward to hosting the top teams and I have no doubt in my mind that with a lot of hard work we have made ourselves ready for the World Cup."
Australia open their title defense against the minnows of Scotland today.
The islands, which won their independence from the British in 1983, produced former West Indies international Keith Arthurton and current star Runako Morton.
It hosted its first ever one-day international against India in May last year when a public holiday was declared.
The minister for sports and tourism Ricky Skerritt believes his country's elevation to hosting World Cup games represents a major achievement.
"The World Cup means everything as St. Kitts does not have a history of cricket. To elevate us from hosting India last year to having Australia and South Africa is great," said Skerritt, a former West Indian team manager. "Even though the West Indies is not playing here, the ticket sales has been fairly good, some 50-percent for smaller matches [Netherlands makes up Group A] and a virtual sell-out for Australia-South Africa match on March 24."
Some 3,000 to 4,000 Australians and South Africans are expected to descend on the ground for that crucial game.
Among the already arrived is Michael Brown, general manager of operations at Cricket Australia.
"It's exciting to be here. A lot of tours have been taking Australians to St Kitts and we hope it provides them great moments," Brown said.
Scots and Dutch are here in numbers.
"Around 100 Scots have arrived and with the Dutch island, St Martin so close, we also expect the Dutchs to come and watch cricket," said Charles Wilkin, the chairman of the local organizing committee.
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