Crowds exceeding 10 000 are expected at Kensington Oval on Wednesday as Barbados prepares to bid farewell to the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, with final works underway to ready the venue for one of the largest public tributes in the island’s history.

Crews were putting the finishing touches on the historic venue on Tuesday, as Sir Garry’s body lay in state at the Oval.

Although the stadium had originally been scheduled to host major Crop Over events, including Pic-O-De-Crop, Chairman of Kensington Oval Management Inc. Damien Gaskin said the transition to a state funeral venue had been completed in just a matter of days.