NELSON, Australia (CMC) — For a city best known for year-round sunshine, pristine beaches and spectacular scenery, the ICC Cricket World Cup has brought a bigger than normal buzz to Nelson ahead of Monday's opening game between West Indies and Ireland.
Located on the north end of South Island and overlooking the picturesque Tasman Bay, Nelson has come to represent an idyllic mixture of tranquillity and adventure for visitors.
Its array of music and art festivals provide the perfect setting for the easy-going, while the three iconic national parks serve up the thrills of hiking and kayaking for the more daring.
The arrival of the World Cup will introduce a new dynamic to the fun-loving city, however. Following on from the West Indies fixture, the United Arab Emirates play Zimbabwe next Thursday, while Bangladesh face Scotland on March 5.
Invariably, police have stepped up security, in keeping with International Cricket Council requirements for hosting World Cup games.
The numbers of security personnel have been increased substantially, with reinforcements being added from Marlborough in the south-east and West Coast, to cope with the anticipated high influx of visitors throughout the World Cup period.
Saxton Oval will have 20 officers for each match, with additional resources deployed on the major highways in and out of the city. Officers will also man traffic checkpoints and monitor for drunk driving.
Crime prevention units have been established in the city, with an investigative unit on call to deal with major incidents.
Inspector Tim Crawford, the operation commander for the Cricket World Cup in Nelson, said planning for the event had been ongoing for months.
"We've got a full operation for the three Cricket World Cup games," Crawford said.
"Based on the previous games, people have gone to the cricket because they enjoy watching the cricket for a day out. We see it no different for Cricket World Cup."
"Add the flavour of having some international teams in town and some overseas visitors, and it should be really good for the region."
The city council, which has shelled out nearly US$776,000 to host the three World Cup games, will usher in Monday's first game with a street party and a market day on Saturday.
And while the city is hoping to see the economic spin-offs from the influx of visitors, they are also keen on ensuring the local population get a taste of the festivities.
"One of the key benefits of this (hosting World Cup matches) is that we are able to offer the opportunity for our residents to attend an international event," communications manager Paul Shattock said.
"It will also allow us to showcase the city to the world, due to the massive audience that watches the matches played at Saxton Oval."
The ground is one of the newest on the ICC grid. It hosted its first ever One-Day International when West Indies toured New Zealand last year and also played host to the fourth ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka last month.
With the pending slate of World Cup matches, hoteliers have reported increased bookings and have also warned that latecomers face the risk of being without accommodation.
"February is always full and always busy; this year it is exceedingly full largely due to the number of events that are happening," said John Gilbertson, administration officer for the Motel Association of New Zealand Nelson branch.
"If you are coming to Nelson from outside the area, be sure to book. There is room, but you have to book."
The Cricket World Cup is being jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia. It bowls off today with New Zealand playing Sri Lanka in Christchurch and Australia clashing with England in Melbourne.
