The Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc. should spend a bit of its financial resources in assisting the regional media, says Norman 'Gus' Thomas.
From Caribbeannetnews
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Monday, February 28 2005): The Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc. should spend a bit of its financial resources in assisting the regional media. That's the view of Norman 'Gus' Thomas, Senior Correspondent of the Cayman Islands-based Caribbean Net News.
Thomas made the comment during one of the working sessions at the just concluded 8th CMExPress one-day workshop which was held at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on the Aubrey Jeffers Highway in Port of Spain, which was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism.
Thomas noted that the CWC2007 is expecting the regional media to promote the 2007 Cricket World Cup in a big way.
"I mean all you hear is: we are looking for a world-class presentation, world class this, world class that. Now all that sounds nice to the ears, especially when Chris Dehering of Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc says it. The plain truth is, even though the Caribbean media wants to go big time for Cricket World Cup 2007 as they market the region to the world, those media facilities in the smaller islands need some financial help in putting certain things in place to make this work."
Thomas is of the view that the CWC2007 should have some responsibility to assist the regional media in this regard. As he noted that the international media, such as Sky Television and Fox Sports, would be present during the games, they are only covering the competition but a lot of the promotion and marketing across the Caribbean will be done by local media houses.
"As I understand it, over US$250 million will be spent to construct nine world class cricket stadiums across the Caribbean, and let me add here that, a lot of questions are being asked including, What will happen to these stadiums after World Cup?
"However, billions are going to be made and the media is expected to heavily promote CWC2007, while others make those billions. Therefore it is only fair that some consideration be given to the media in the smaller islands and assist them in getting their respective media houses in order for their great event.
"Knowing Caribbean people as I do, they can rise to any occasion. We have some geniuses in this here region all we need is a little money and we can go up against anybody from anywhere. Elquemedo Willet from Nevis, Sir Vivian Richards from Antigua, the brothers Shillingford from Dominica have all demonstrated this."
Thomas also expects the world to get a 'Caribbean experience' for CWC2007 and pointed out that the people of the Caribbean must be the ones to benefit financially from this event.
"If you go to Australia they will tell you that everyone, hoteliers, shopkeepers, taxi men, benefits from their major sporting events. It ought to be the same for the people of the Caribbean. It is my understanding that in excess of 300,000 tickets have already been sold and we still have two years to go, so you see, everyone of us can benefit in some way, but I want to see some assistance being given to the smaller media houses of the region. Maybe Dehring could speak to the others and secure a US$ 10 million aid package to assist the regional media in preparing," he said.
Media professionals including government and other officials from New York and across the Caribbean attended the one-day meeting where Chris Dehring, Chairman of Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc. made a presentation on the theme "Caribbean World Cup 2007 - .the State of Play."
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