World Cup planning well on track

The massive volunteers system for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 is on track, and, as its manager Harman Beetge explains, it will be launched in early July.

"We are working on the training programme and other aspects of this very important task and we should be on schedule to launch the process in early July," said Beetge. It is envisaged 5 000 volunteers would take part in the activities of the Cricket World Cup, playing various crucial roles, in making the lives of those who will be taking part in the tournament, especially the spectators, easy. Beetge also announced the following stadium volunteer co-ordinators: Moos Nicholas (Boland Park); Tich Fraser (Kingsmead); Tommy Verreynne (Goodyear Park); Heidi Kent (St George's Park); Graig Dryer (Bufallo Park); John Openshaw (North West Stadium) and Daryl Baruffol (SuperSport Park). Their main responsibility will be to manage the volunteers at the stadiums during the day of the match.

A huge music component is part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 and is being driven by marketing director Nomsa Chabeli. A committee set up to work on the programme had its first meeting-cum-workshop this week. The music programme includes the theme song, music for the opening and closing ceremonies, music for the roadshow, public performances at stadiums, airports, hotels and a variety of other activities. Playwright, film director and chairperson of the South African Music Awards Duma ka Ndlovu, chairs the committee. "We were joined by music industry luminaries such as Ray Phiri, Don Laka, Arthur Mafokate and Sipho Mabuse. Five big recording companies, Gallo, EMI, Sony, Universal and BMG, were presented by their senior management. Also present were representatives form independent record labels and other music stakeholders," Chabeli said. She said that a concrete action plan and a strategy were adopted, paving the way for the success of the project. "All we can say is ... `it's going to be a dazzler'," said an obviously elated Chabeli.

Planning for ticket sales is well on track. Tickets go on sale on July 15 at stadiums at which Cricket World Cup matches will be staged. Ticket sales will also be available via the Internet and through the Communications Call Centre. The telephone number for the call centre will be announced shortly, according to commercial director Ian Smith. He has also indicated that so far, R12-million has been collected from preferential ticket sales.

The security directorate of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 this week held a series of meetings aimed at completing the security blueprint for the event. Head of the directorate Patrick Ronan reported at the weekly management meeting that they were pleased following feedback from a recent stakeholders' meeting, adding that the consultation process had been a worthwhile and an eye-opening process.

In the ongoing effort to engage the media in the run-up to the Cricket World Cup, communications director Jos Charle met Independent Newspapers' editor of the Internal News Network, Alan Dunn and the advertising manager of the Pretoria News, Michele van Wyk. Both expressed desire to work closely with the CWC organising committee in order to maximize advertising opportunities on their part, while also giving maximum exposure to the event. Charle had a further meeting with representatives of the giant publishing house, Caxton, which was represented by Bevis Fairbrother (managing editor), Karen Geurtse (manager) and Ellen Raubenheimer (editor-in-chief). The giant company has 90 titles throughout the country and in Johannesburg alone sees a circulation of more than 500 000 copies of community newspapers each week. Further talks are in the pipeline.

While on the subject of publicity, marketing director Nomsa Chabeli was studio guest of Benedict Maaga on Radio 702 This offered another opportunity to explain in detail the marketing strategy of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.