Curtain comes down on World Cup 2007 today

Elmo RODGRIGOPULLE

CLOSE: Kensington Oval in Barbados where the final is to be played looks a picture. It has all been spruced up, painted with the blue and yellow seats adding a lot of colour.

The playing field is lush green, looking more like a billiard table while the wickets which are shorn off all grass looks like a desert.

It will be a Caribbean styled celebration to end the six-week Cricket World Cup 2007 on Saturday.

Nearly 1,200 performers, including a 300-piece steel pan orchestra, will bring the curtain down at the end of the presentation of the trophy to the winning team.

On Wednesday afternoon the rehearsals were being done, with about 300 dancers at the National Stadium led by choreographer Louise Woodwine.

They were practising the HIV/AIDS Ribbon Dance to the official Cricket World Cup song Love and Unity. Woodwine said that the dancers were selected from all dance schools, including her own.

The local organisers are sure going to make the closing ceremony memorable as they did the Opening Ceremony.

And the organisers are not taking any chances with the security for the final.

A packed house is expected and everyone’s safety is guaranteed.

About 350 military personnel from international countries and the caribbean will be in Barbados to help provide security. Among the security people are 70 ‘expertly trained’ police officers in bomb and nuclear materials detection.

Other than for the tear gas incidents in Trinidad and the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer in Jamaica, there have been no major incidents.

Kensington Oval, Barbados, Friday