By Athena Karsera
IT’S OFFICIAL. Cyprus will be the host of the 2000 Miss Universe Pageant, Commerce and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis announced yesterday.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Rolandis said this “event of the millennium” would provide Cyprus with exposure in over 100 countries, with television coverage expecting to attract approximately 2.4 billion viewers.
“This is an entertainment event and so will be difficult to combine with information on the Cyprus problem,” Rolandis added. “We will, however, give exposure to the issue in subtle, less direct ways which are, in any case, often more effective.”
The Minister said that, on this issue, the organisers would focus on the concept of Cyprus as a successful survivor of a tragic event, with much attention given to the island’s cultural heritage.
Miss Universe Organisation president Maureen Reidy said it was this very cultural heritage that had attracted the organisers to Cyprus and had helped distinguish the island from the other twelve, undisclosed, candidate host countries.
“It was a heated competition… but it was Cyprus that clearly stood out in its culture, beauty and ancient history.”
Rolandis had heavily promoted the idea of Cyprus as the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite.
A ‘golden apple’ like that mythologically given to Aphrodite by Priam, king of Troy in recognition of her supreme beauty over the other goddesses, is also in the pipeline as an award to the winning candidate.
Reidy said the organisers planned to make the 49th annual Miss Universe Pageant in Cyprus “the best event ever,” especially as it would be tied in with millennium celebrations.
She said the contest would be held mid-May but that a specific date had not yet been decided on.
Top US television channel CBS owns the Miss Universe Organisation and will be showing the two-hour extravaganza live in its prime time slot. That means the pageant will begin at 4am Cyprus time.
After much speculation, Rolandis said, the organisers decided that Nicosia’s Eleftheria stadium would be the most suitable Cyprus venue, as it was the largest indoor location available.
Eleftheria stadium has capacity for 4,000 spectators, but Rolandis said that large screen televisions would probably be set up around the island for more (paying) spectators to watch the competition live.
“Of course, the ideal place would be at the birthplace of Aphrodite, but the organisers could not rely on there not being any rain or equipment- damaging humidity,” Rolandis said.
Reidy later added that the pageant was a much publicised A-list event and could not depend on favourable weather conditions.
She added that world famous celebrities would be staying on the island to judge and provide entertainment at the contest, while CBS owner multi- millionaire Donald Trump was also expected to attend the contest.
Other stars have not yet been decided upon, with Reidy saying suggestions on Cyprus’ favourite international stars would be taken into account. CBS will also be choosing the event’s hosts.
Contestants from 85 countries will spend three weeks on the island, with Rolandis saying that they would be taken around various parts of the island, with accommodation not limited to one or two particular towns.
Thousands of spectators are expected to visit Cyprus especially for the event: Rolandis said these as well as future visits resulting from Cyprus’ exposure, would more than cover the island’s £2 million costs for hosting the contest.
Money would also be made on selling Cyprus’ broadcasting rights on the competition, he said.
