Kingston: The clock to the third largest sporting event onthe planet is ticking, with organisers putting their best foot forward to geteverything in order for the cricket World Cup that kicks off March 11.

The opening ceremony will be conducted at the Trelawnymulti-purpose stadium in the historic town of Falmouth, a two-hour drive from here thatwill also host four warm-up matches March 5-9.

The $30 million facility is spread over 60 acres. Thestadium has two stands - north and south with a seating capacity of 2,500 and7,500 respectively. The seats in the stand are laid out in the colour of Jamaica'snational flag.

While the southern stand offers a view of the Caribbean Seaand the town of Falmouth,spectators in the north stand can gaze at a lush-green mountain range.

The south stand houses the press boxes and the broadcastfacilities as well as facilities for the teams and officials.

In addition there are two grassed berms that can accommodate5,000 spectators. These add the Caribbean flavour to the game, being open areas wherelive bands will play. Spectators can buy a ticket to these "partystands", getting a chance to enjoy the game and simultaneously knock downsome drinks and shake a leg.

The stadium is accessible to the physically challenged andwheelchair-bound, with wide isles, ramps and railings.

The organisers are expecting around 600 international mediapersonnel to attend the opening ceremony that will be telecast live to anestimated audience of 2.6 billion.

Falmouthand its environs, officials believe, will benefit from the sports facility asit has been built as a testimonial to take it beyond cricket.

"Building of this facility in the north of the islandis strategic as it lends itself for the development of new areas ofmarketing," Robert Bryan, executive director, Jamaica Cricket 2007 Ltd,told sources.

"Plans are underway to embark on marketing Jamaica asevent and sports tourism destination," he said.

During the event, the town, with its history and Georgianarchitecture, is being transformed into a "walking museum" withguided tours.

Toursand attractions are being worked on so as to attract more tourists who will bein this picturesque island during the course of the World Cup. Jamaica getsaround 2.5 million visitors every year.

In Kingston, the SabinaParkstadium has been refurbished, with work on this historic site being done inthree phases. The pitch and field were the first to be completed, with theoutfield being equipped with a sub-surface drainage network and an automaticirrigation system.

The second phase involved the refurbishing of the GeorgeHeadley Stand. Phase three of the project covered the demolition of the oldnorth stand and building a new structure that will house facilities forplayers, sponsors and officials. The stand also has broadcast facilities, thepress box, 78 executive suites on two levels - and seating for an estimated7,500 spectators.

The Park now boosts a much larger 'party stand' below a newelectronic scoreboard. The facilities here also have been made disabledfriendly.

SabinaPark will accommodate20,000 fans, of which 4,000 will be temporary seating. SabinaParkwill host six first round group stage matches and one semi-final.

The logistics are into place, and the hosts are gearing upto welcome the visitors. It is estimated that 100,000 cricket specificspectators will come to the Caribbean to watchthe matches.

The hosts are promising to drench them with the warmhospitality and of course the spirit of the game.

"This is about Jamaica,"says Bryan.

"We are inviting members of our family, and you shouldenjoy, be comfortable and be at home," he said.