LISBON, July 8 – The Great Wall of China was named asone of the new seven
wonders of the world on Saturday in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Brazil’s Statue of Christ Redeemer, Peru’s Machu Picchu, Mexico’s Chichen
Itza pyramid, Jordan’s Petra, the Colosseum in Rome and India’s Taj Mahal
were also chosen as the modern-day seven wonders of the world, according
to a global vote by tens of millions of Internet and telephone voters
around the world.
The seven winners were announced at a televised ceremony at Lisbon’s
Benfica stadium, which was broadcast in more than 100 countries or
regions to an estimated 1.6 billion viewers.
A myriad of stars and celebrities, including Portuguese President Anibal
Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister Jose Socrates and Spanish tenor Jose
Carreras, attended the ceremony.
After the announcement, the New Seven Wonders of the World organizers
awarded certificates and souvenir badges to representatives from the
seven nations.
In a speech, Han Guowei, an official from China’s Great Wall Society,
expressed appreciation for the event’s organizers and voters who vote for
the Great Wall, a cultural heritage of the world that belongs to all
humanity.
Thanks to its great charm, the Great Wall was named as one of the new
wonders, he said, adding that all friends from around the world are
welcomed to China to experience its “greatness and eternity.”
A private foundation, established by Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard
Weber, launched the contest in January, allowing Internet and telephone
voters to choose between 21 sites short-listed from 77 selected by a jury.
It said it had gathered more than 90 million votes by the end of polling
at midnight Friday.
The foundation, which aims to encourage cultural diversity by supporting,
preserving and restoring monuments, and inspire people to value their
heritage, said it would use 50 percent of net revenue from the project to
fund restoration efforts around the world.
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