.gif)
Windsor Park (Dominica)
Encyclopedia
Windsor Park is a multi-purpose stadium
in Roseau, Dominica. It also serves as the national stadium and is currently used mostly for cricket
matches. However it serves as the venue for national activities such as the World Creole Music Festival
, The Finals of the Calypso Competition and the Miss Dominica pageant among other activities.
The mostly-cricket stadium located in downtown Roseau is of International Cricket Council
(ICC) international standard and accommodates state-of-the-art facilities featuring 12,000 seats, private boxes, a media centre, practice nets, a players' complex, digital score boards and five cricket pitches.
and situated on the eastern side of Roseau. It was levelled out of a rubbish dump previously known as Cow Town. It was a popular venue for sports of all kinds, carnival activities, horse
and donkey racing, State parades and played a central role in island life. In 1999 a national stadium was planned for the site, but after demolishing all of the existing stands and adjoining buildings, including a former school that had once been wards of the Roseau Hospital, the project was abandoned and the site was deserted until 2005.
However, work on Dominica's first 12,000 capacity international cricket stadium started on 23 March 2005, on the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China
and Dominica. The stadium is one of the 'Four Pillar Projects' promised by the People's Republic of China to Dominica as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the establishment of ties between Dominica and Mainland China. The stadium is viewed as a gift at a cost of EC$33 million, (US$17 million, €
12 million), from the government of the People's Republic of China
to the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica. On 7 February 2007, work on the Windsor Park Stadium was completed, however, works on the facilities to accompany the stadium resulted in the stadium not being utilized before May 2007, therefore missing any activities relating to Cricket World Cup 2007, held in the Caribbean. The handing-over ceremony of the stadium from Chinese officials to Dominica took place on March 23, marking the third year of diplomatic ties with the People's Republic
. On 24 October 2007 the Windsor Park National Sport Stadium was official opened with a grand ceremony. The 11th Annual World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) was held on Oct. 25–27 as the stadium's first official activity.
played their first 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Barbados
in front of 4,200 spectators at Windsor Park.
Dominica hosted its first 2 ODI matches at Windsor Park Stadium between West Indies and Bangladesh.The games were played on Sunday, July 26 and Tuesday, July 28 in 2009.
Windsor Park hosted its first Test match between West Indies and India from July 6–10. 2011.
Dominica Windsor Park Stadium hosted 2 ODI's during West Indies home series against South Africa on May 27th and 30th, 2010.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Roseau, Dominica. It also serves as the national stadium and is currently used mostly for cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches. However it serves as the venue for national activities such as the World Creole Music Festival
World Creole Music Festival
The establishment of the Dominica World Creole Music Festival by the Dominica Festivals Commission ushered in the newest music festival in the Caribbean...
, The Finals of the Calypso Competition and the Miss Dominica pageant among other activities.
The mostly-cricket stadium located in downtown Roseau is of International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC) international standard and accommodates state-of-the-art facilities featuring 12,000 seats, private boxes, a media centre, practice nets, a players' complex, digital score boards and five cricket pitches.
History
A recreation ground named after Windsor, EnglandWindsor, England
There are three places called Windsor in England:* Windsor, Berkshire, the primary use of the name and home to Windsor Castle* Windsor, Cornwall* Windsor, Lincolnshire...
and situated on the eastern side of Roseau. It was levelled out of a rubbish dump previously known as Cow Town. It was a popular venue for sports of all kinds, carnival activities, horse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and donkey racing, State parades and played a central role in island life. In 1999 a national stadium was planned for the site, but after demolishing all of the existing stands and adjoining buildings, including a former school that had once been wards of the Roseau Hospital, the project was abandoned and the site was deserted until 2005.
However, work on Dominica's first 12,000 capacity international cricket stadium started on 23 March 2005, on the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Dominica. The stadium is one of the 'Four Pillar Projects' promised by the People's Republic of China to Dominica as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the establishment of ties between Dominica and Mainland China. The stadium is viewed as a gift at a cost of EC$33 million, (US$17 million, €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
12 million), from the government of the People's Republic of China
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
to the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica. On 7 February 2007, work on the Windsor Park Stadium was completed, however, works on the facilities to accompany the stadium resulted in the stadium not being utilized before May 2007, therefore missing any activities relating to Cricket World Cup 2007, held in the Caribbean. The handing-over ceremony of the stadium from Chinese officials to Dominica took place on March 23, marking the third year of diplomatic ties with the People's Republic
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. On 24 October 2007 the Windsor Park National Sport Stadium was official opened with a grand ceremony. The 11th Annual World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) was held on Oct. 25–27 as the stadium's first official activity.
Activities
On 6 February 2008, the Dominica national football teamDominica national football team
The Dominica national football team is the national team of Dominica and is controlled by the Dominica Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is among its weakest teams, getting beaten 10–0 and 8–0 by Mexico in 2006 World Cup qualifying....
played their first 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Barbados
Barbados national football team
The Barbados national football team, nicknamed Bajan Pride, is the national association football team of Barbados and is controlled by the Barbados Football Association. It has never qualified for a major international tournament...
in front of 4,200 spectators at Windsor Park.
Dominica hosted its first 2 ODI matches at Windsor Park Stadium between West Indies and Bangladesh.The games were played on Sunday, July 26 and Tuesday, July 28 in 2009.
Windsor Park hosted its first Test match between West Indies and India from July 6–10. 2011.
Dominica Windsor Park Stadium hosted 2 ODI's during West Indies home series against South Africa on May 27th and 30th, 2010.