The West Indies is gearing up to host the Cricket World Cup beginning next March 2007. Events will take place in eight venues in the Caribbean and are sure to draw huge crowds (the television audience is expected to reach 2 billion people!) In preparation for these mass gatherings, Member States are reviewing their hospital preparedness plans. PAHO is helping to organize simulation exercises and other training for emergency care and treatment, incident command systems and mass casualty management. Look for more information in upcoming issues of this newsletter.