WHO RUNS THE WORLD...
Women's World Cup (WWC) Cricket, 24th June - 23rd July 2017 (England & Wales)
Contracted as one of five Venue Managers with Red Sky at Night Events Ltd. I was based in Derbyshire, UK for the duration of this prestigious tournament.
Derby hosted 8 group matches as well as the second Semi-Final with capacity crowds of over 2,500 per match. Our pre-event production involved sourcing local entertainment and event volunteers for 31 matches; overall production and management of various fan activations (4/6 cards, claphits, lanyard packs, totem poles, tournament hashtags, inflatable graffiti cricket balls). Each of the 31 matches played across the 5 venues involved a Match Ceremony whereby our team would work with the England Cricket Board (ECB) and venue to co-ordinate the two schools that were invited to partake in the ceremonies. Over 50 very excited children were rehearsed each match on the particular flag or anthem protocols and also involved in the 'All Stars' mid-innings activation.
Under the direction of Event Director Jenny Gilmour, RSANE created and produced the WWC 2017 Opening Ceremony, which involved 25m coloured silk fabrics in a choreographed sequence. Students were responsible for representing and introducing the countries involved in the tournament through these coloured silks and the ceremony was televised live on Sky Sports 2.
England Women kept their supporters on the edge of their seats throughout the tournament with a shaky start in Derby (losing to India), setting a record hitting total against Australia to escaping a last over stand-off from surprise team South Africa in the Semi-Final.
England versus India at a sell out Lords Cricket Ground (26,000) will forever be one of my favourite experiences - both as a spectator as well as the on site team. This tournament not only pushed boundaries for women's sport but created new hero's for young sportspeople when it needed it most.
'At the start of the day, Lord’s was treated to the unusual sight of the World Cup being transported to its plinth by a trapeze artist dangling from a giant balloon. This, then, was no ordinary occasion: the ground was bursting, except for the members’ pavilion, to watch 22 cricketers who, because of their gender, would not have been admitted to membership less than two decades ago. What drama they gave us. Truly, this was one of the great Lord’s finals.'
Mike Atherton, Chief Cricket Correspondent
