Seychelles Pays $5.3m To Host Miss World 97
ABCL said the Seychelles government was eager to hold the current Miss World contest in their country. This happened much before we announced our intention to hold it in Bangalore, said ABCL general manager Manohar Arcot.
We took a business decision to move the beach-wear session to Seychelles, Arcot said. Their government offered us between $ 5-6 million to hold the current pageant there. According to him, the underlying theme of the pageant was to promote `beauty with a purpose.
ABCL disclosed the names of some of the judges for the contest. They include Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasurya, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, Miss World founder Eric Morley and Parmeshwar Godrej, whose corporate group will sponsor up to Rs 5 crore for the event.
Morley has agreed to bring a `celebrity each from the US and the UK. One of them is expected to be a Hollywood star. An eminent personality from Bangalore will be the chief guest.
The organisers will contract the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation to telecast the event to an expected 2 billion international viewers. South Africa Broadcasting Corporation will bring in a 12-camera outdoor broadcasting (OB) van from London.
ABCL, quoting some newspaper surveys, said even though there were protests by some groups against the pageant, a majority of people of Bangalore city were for the event.
As part of Miss World 1996, a childrens party and charity dinner will be held on November 14 in Bangalore. The proceeds will be dedicated to the Spastics Society of Bangalore chapter.
Since inception, Miss World has grossed in excess of Rs 400 crore in charity. In India, the charitable efforts are being directed towards the Spastic Society of Karnataka, Arcot said.
According to ABCL, the organisation extended the fund raising worldwide to include organisations like `Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund, `Operation Hunger (South Africas major hunger relief organisation), among others.
ABCL dismissed the cries of anti-pageant forums as a lack of understanding. Even the Karnataka High Court has dismissed two petitions filed against the event, theres nothing remotely vulgar or obscene, it said.
It denied it had invited any agitating forum for discussion.
Not 50,000 but only 18,000 people will come to Bangalore to attend Miss World 1996, ABCL said. I assure you therell be no traffic jams. Were holding the main event on a Saturday after 9.30 pm.