Trees carry a welcome for World Cup teams

Dunedin City Council events special projects co-ordinator Tammy Jackman stands next to some trees...
Dunedin City Council events special projects co-ordinator Tammy Jackman stands next to some trees in the Octagon that have been decorated to mark the city's hosting of the Cricket World Cup. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Yarn bombers have festooned Octagon trees with flags of Cricket World Cup teams coming to Dunedin as part of final preparations for the city's hosting of the tournament.

The four woollen sleeves - known as yarn bombs - for the trees were put up yesterday after being made by a Dunedin knitting group which had worked on them at their weekly meetings since October.

The decorations come as Dunedin's part in playing host to the tournament is set to begin on Sunday, when the Scottish team is welcomed to the city in the Octagon at an event running from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

On Tuesday, the Black Caps take on Scotland at University Oval, in the first of three games at the venue.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said he could sense the excitement building around the city as final preparations were made for what was a ''truly international event''.

''Every month it has gone up a notch or two and now that we are just a few days away from the first ball being bowled, the level of interest has become intense.

''I think we are seeing a really special Dunedin atmosphere develop around this event.''

Council events special projects co-ordinator Tammy Jackman, who organised the yarn bombing of the Octagon trees, said the decorations were a nice addition and ''a little bit different''.

Each yarn bomb matched the colours on the flags of cricket teams playing in the city during the world cup: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Scotland and Afghanistan.

About eight women from the group, which meets weekly at Knit World, in

Stuart St, knitted the four 2.2m by 2.2m flags using about 60 balls of wool.

The yarn bombing was part of the huge amount of work that had been put into Dunedin's hosting of the event.

''I think everyone involved is looking forward to Sunday's welcome for the Scottish team because that will, in many ways, mark the official beginning of the event for Dunedin.

The event in the upper Octagon will feature cultural performances, face painting, food stalls and entertainment, as well as an opportunity to meet members of the Scottish team before Tuesday's sold-out match.

Dunedin's other two pool matches are Sri Lanka v Afghanistan on February 22 and Scotland v Afghanistan on February 26.

Welcoming celebrations are also planned for the other teams, involving members of the local Sri Lankan and Afghan communities.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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