by Mike King

WORLD CUP FEVER has hardly reached epidemic proportions at ground level, but it is heartening to hear that the Caribbean seems to be building the platform for what should be a good innings and a grand total next year.

The third-greatest show on earth is coming to town and it was pleasing to hear Rory Steyn, who was head of security for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, endorse the Caribbean's readiness for World Cup 2007.

Steyn, a security consultant for next March's global event, said he thought the Caribbean was further advanced and further ahead than the South Africans at the same stage for the 2003 tournament.

Closed circuit technology will be utilised and security personnel able to see the movement of all spectators in the stadiums. As part of the security master plan, systems have been put in place to clear the ground in eight minutes or less, in keeping with international standards.

So the security should be comprehensive and word is that the building construction phase is on target.

However, several other matters are less clear. How are we going to cope with the huge influx of fans, especially from England and India in terms of hotel accommodation? The Caribbean will be swarmed with visitors like never before and only time will tell if a group of Third World islands can handle a First World invasion.

And how many Barbadians on National Heroes Day, April 28, will see the World Cup Final in their own backyard? Not many. All of the tickets – priced as high as US$300 – available through the public ticketing system, have been sold out for the final, meaning the average man will have to be consoled with watching it on TV.

The World Cup will be about much more than cricket. Whether the West Indies win or lose, many with entrepreneurial drive and ambition have already positioned themselves for financial spin-offs, but how much of it will trickle down to the average man?

What about our medical services? The Queen Elizabeth Hospital struggles on a daily basis to deal with routine cases, so how would they handle the stern challenge of an emergency with the eyes of the world upon them?

For the many visitors preparing to sample the hotels, beaches, cocktails and nightlife, the experience promises to be unforgettable. Let us hope Caribbean folk are part of that thrill of a lifetime.