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Acropolis and Taj Mahal in new 7 Wonders final |
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15:03, July 06, 2007 |
As a global competition to name the new Wonders of the World draws to a close more than 20 million people have voted, whittling the list down to 20 ahead of tomorrow's announcement of the winner in Lisbon.
The Egyptian pyramids at Giza are the only structures still remaining from the original list of seven architectural marvels put together by different observers of the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East.
But it is the Acropolis, Easter Island and the Taj Mahal which are favorites for the top spot in the new list.
Long gone are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos lighthouse off Alexandria.
Choosing world wonders has been a continuing fascination over the centuries. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, keeps updating its list of World Heritage Sites, which now totals 830 properties.
The New Seven Wonders of the World campaign was begun in 1999 by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber, with almost 200 nominations coming in from around the world. It is not connected to UNESCO.
Weber "felt it is time for something new to bring the world together" and to "symbolize a common pride in the global cultural heritage," said Tia B. Viering, spokeswoman for the campaign.
Weber's Zurich, Switzerland-based foundation aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments. It relies on private donations and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.
The number of nominations was pared down by Internet and telephone voting to 77 last year. Then the campaign assembled a panel of architectural experts, chaired by the former UNESCO chief Federico Mayor, which shortened the list to the final 21.
Interest has been growing this year as Weber and his 10-member team visited the 21 sites. The final visit was to the Statue of Liberty in New York on March 6. Voting is allowed until July 6.
Source: China Daily/agencies
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