The colour switch
Wondering why there is so much orange on your screen when stadiums have been bleeding blue for India in this World CupIJ Well, it’s not a saffron campaign in case you were wondering. It’s all orange because most Indian fans were wearing T-shirts sponsored by New Zealand’s leading beer company called Tui which has sponsored the hugely popular ‘Catch a Million’ contest for fans. Every catch taken cleanly with one hand by anyone in the stands would be collected for big prize money. Though the sum goes up to $1 million if New Zealand reaches the Final of this World Cup, it is cleverly tiered and linked to the reach of the Black Caps in the competition. The minimum prize money is $2,50,000, if New Zealand reaches the quarters, it will go up to $3,50,000, $5,00,0000 in semis and $1 million for the Finals. The prize money will be divided among the catchers at every stage. That’s bonanza enough to change colour, though some resident Hindu associations are having a cool time linking it to Hindutva.
Flames of victory
It all looks pretty fiery on the screens when flames light up for every boundary but it’s been quite a nuisance for the spectators, especially those sitting near the area where all the lighting is being done. These lPG powered fire pushers are something that have replaced cheer leaders but the heat and the pollution created by them, more so in pristine countries like New Zealand, it might just amount to something that was thoroughly ill-advised, live TV adornment notwithstanding. In Melbourne, an entire stand was pushing itself back constantly due to the heat generated by these flame pushers. At temperatures bordering 38 degrees Celsius perhaps a zany ice shower would have been more advisable in a country where flames are strictly banned for fear of bush fires.
First time hovering
This is the very first time that the hover camera has hung over the middle in Seddon Park. This picturesque stadium which dotes on its informality and family atmosphere, had so far been away from modern technology intrusions like this camera which hangs like a big black spider above the heads of the players. In this World Cup, this camera is being used only for the so-called “big matches” which have one of the top eight teams participating. It was there for the South Africa vs Zimbabwe match and then returned for India. Doesn’t really go with the ambience and is more for behemoths like the MCG.
Indiaa-Indiaaa
It was a sold-out Indian crowd in the stands at Seddon Park with 95 per cent presence for India and a miserly 5 per cent for Ireland. Hamilton is a fast growing small city with a population of just 1.5 lakh, which is half its cow population of 2,23,998 lakh incidentally. Indians here are a very small population of barely 10,000 which is the capacity of this stadium. However, those parked in the stands for the India-Ireland match were from all over — England, India, US, Australia and Auckland, where there is a considerable Indian presence.