Thailand To Host Miss Universe 2005

[george]

Thailand to Host Miss Universe 2005

Competition to Be Broadcast Live on NBC

NEW YORK: -- Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization announced today that Bangkok, Thailand will host the 2005 MISS UNIVERSE® Competition. The show will broadcast domestically on NBC and Telemundo on Monday, May 30, 2005 at 9PM ET (delayed PT) and will be distributed around the world to nearly a billion viewers.

"We felt during our first trip to Bangkok, last June, that we had found our home for the next Miss Universe competition," said Shugart. "The officials we met with in Thailand showed great enthusiasm at the prospect of hosting the three week event. After the tragic tsunami of December 26th, all discussions were put on hold out of respect for the country and the Thai people. In recent weeks the Thai Government and the other entities involved returned to us, certain of their desire to host the Pageant, its contestants and their families and friends. We are honored and look forward to the privilege of helping Thailand as it begins to rebuild its tourism industry. We have told Minister Kunplome that he has our full support."

"We send our sincerest thanks to The Miss Universe Organization for all the support and enthusiasm they have shown since this process began," said Thailand's Minister of Sport and Tourism, Mr. Sontaya Kunplome. "We know that bringing the Pageant to Thailand is one of the many steps in re-building our economy and boosting our tourism. There is no better time, for our people and our economy, for us to bring this worldwide event to our country."

Of Thailand's 62 million residents, almost 10 million reside in Bangkok, known in Thai as the "City of Angels." The 223 year old city, which is rapidly becoming one of the premiere fashion capitals of the world, is a dazzling mix of towering sky scrapers, shimmering golden temples (including the dazzling and not to be missed "Grand Palace") and unique shopping districts. The city is also home to many ancient canals, which once afforded Bangkok the title "Venice of the East." Outside the city's 200-plus mile perimeter, the landscape is diverse. From the lush green mountainous forests of Northern Thailand to the stunning tropical white-sand beaches along the Andaman Sea (home to some of the world's best snorkeling and scuba diving), the country offers a variety of scenic tours and relaxing destinations. During the three- week pageant period, family, friends and international media from all over the world will visit Bangkok while hundreds of millions of viewers will tune-in for the live broadcast.

The Pageant will be hosted by Matching Studio Public Company Limited, Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Company Limited and BBTV Productions Company Limited, three of the most prominent companies in Thailand. We wish to thank Mr. Somchai Cheewasutthanon of Matching Studio and Madame Thasani Siriyeum of Showcase Thailand 2005 for their tireless efforts in helping bring the Pageant to Bangkok.

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC partnership. Utilizing its global grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS Awareness and women's health and reproductive issues. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, such as the Global Health Council, Gods Love We Deliver and the United Nations Population Fund's Face- to-Face Campaign, Miss Universe is armed to impact women today. http://www.missuniverse.com

Source: Yahoo News / The Miss Universe Organization 2005-02-16

[Lars]

The contestants will parade in bathing suits,is the Culture Watch notified?

[stumonster]

MISS UNIVERSE®

is that little 'r' the rating of the show???

[george]

Govt denies plans to stage Miss Universe in tsunami resort

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday denied rumours that the government was planning to stage the Miss Universe contest in Thailand's tsunami-damaged resort of Khao Lak, where thousands lost their lives last December.

Refuting the claims made by a Chulalongkorn University lecturer, Mr. Suwat said that Thailand had planned to host the beauty contest since last year, and that it had not been a sudden decision made in the wake of the tsunami aimed at boosting Thailand's tourism sector.

He confirmed, however, that the contest would take place in Bangkok, noting that there were no suitable locations in the southern region to cope with the 10,000-strong crowd likely to gather for the event.

Although he admitted that the managers of the contest had suggested Khao Lak as a possible location, he said that activities would be held in the southern region prior to the contest to help publicize Thailand's image abroad, but that the actual event was likely to be held in Bangkok's Impact Arena.

"I don't know where Mr. Surichai (Wankaeow, a Chulalongkorn political science lecturer) got his information from", Mr. Suwat said, while confirming that the contestants would take a nationwide tour of the country which would lead them to the Andaman provinces of Phuket and Krabi.

But Mr. Suwat, who oversees the government's tourism operations, admitted that the government would use the contest as a tourism opportunity, with European contestants taken to visit the ancient monuments favoured by European visitors and Asian contestants taken to visit the seaside resorts favoured by such nations as the Japanese.

The Phang-nga resort of Khao Lak bore the brunt of the damage when massive tidal waves slammed into the Andaman coast last December, with more than 4,000 lives lost in the province alone.

--TNA 2005-02-17

[DJ Pat]

It's strange and perhaps a bit unfair that the winners of Miss Universe are always from Planet earth.

[Diggerbasher]

Do they believe that tourists are going to come to Thailand to see the show?