IPL to produce fevered festivities for South Africa
Cape Town - Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi promised on Wednesday a non-stop carnival atmosphere at this year's tournament in South Africa. There have been fears the Twenty20 event would lose some of its character because of the forced move across the Indian Ocean owing to a clash of dates with general elections that could have compromised security.
However, Modi insists South Africans can expect a continuous party with organisers looking to raise the bar in terms of festivities. "The entire IPL second season is going to be like a carnival," Modi told AFP from his base at a five-star Cape Town hotel.
However, Modi insists South Africans can expect a continuous party with organisers looking to raise the bar in terms of festivities. "The entire IPL second season is going to be like a carnival," Modi told AFP from his base at a five-star Cape Town hotel.
"We are kicking off on Thursday with a parade through Cape Town, when we will embrace and meet the people and interact with them. "The entire atmosphere in every ground the minute you enter the stadium, and the minute you leave the stadium, is going to be like a carnival with festivities all round. "There are going to be performers outside the stadium, around the stadium walls, inside the stadium at every match. In the intervals you will have live performances by musicians. "So we are taking it a notch higher."
Modi also expects the on-field action this year to be more entertaining than during the first edition with the playing field levelled by lack of familiarity with South African conditions. "What we are hearing from all the teams practising in South Africa is that the pitches are very, very different from what they would expect in India or in any other place," he explained.
"So it's going to be a great match because it's totally unpredictable. People are not used to the (South African) turf so it's going to be entertaining all round." The logistics involved in moving the 59-match tournament have been mind boggling with 40 000 hotel room-nights booked in South Africa and more than 20 000 plane tickets bought.
While Modi admitted the decision to relocate was emotional, he says the response from the new IPL hosts has been overwhelmingly positive. "It was probably the most difficult decision in my life," Modi said of moving the tournament away from its spiritual home. "Putting that aside, the move to South Africa has been absolutely incredible. The support from Cricket South Africa, the (national) government and the provincial government in Cape Town has just been beyond my imagination.
"I think we will have an incredible series in South Africa, and the way we will judge whether it is successful or not is by how smooth the tournament goes forward. "The way things are looking right now, I think we are on a good wicket and we're going to have very smooth sailing going forward."
Modi also expects the on-field action this year to be more entertaining than during the first edition with the playing field levelled by lack of familiarity with South African conditions. "What we are hearing from all the teams practising in South Africa is that the pitches are very, very different from what they would expect in India or in any other place," he explained.
"So it's going to be a great match because it's totally unpredictable. People are not used to the (South African) turf so it's going to be entertaining all round." The logistics involved in moving the 59-match tournament have been mind boggling with 40 000 hotel room-nights booked in South Africa and more than 20 000 plane tickets bought.
While Modi admitted the decision to relocate was emotional, he says the response from the new IPL hosts has been overwhelmingly positive. "It was probably the most difficult decision in my life," Modi said of moving the tournament away from its spiritual home. "Putting that aside, the move to South Africa has been absolutely incredible. The support from Cricket South Africa, the (national) government and the provincial government in Cape Town has just been beyond my imagination.
"I think we will have an incredible series in South Africa, and the way we will judge whether it is successful or not is by how smooth the tournament goes forward. "The way things are looking right now, I think we are on a good wicket and we're going to have very smooth sailing going forward."
Many Lion’s fans are expected in South Africa to support their team. ”Coupled with the IPL Cricket which ends on 23 May, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June and the ICC 8-Nations Champions’ Trophy in September, South Africa is certainly expecting thousands of fans for the upcoming top level sporting events,” notes Robert Wilson. CEO of travelinsouthafrica.net . “Fans would be well advised to sort out their travel and accommodation soon,” he said.
