By: CHRIS GRAEME
A BEAUTIFULLY choreographed, star-studded show business statement in colour, music and dance best describes Saturday evening’s gala ceremony for the unveiling of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The three-hour TVI televised extravaganza was yet another visible proof that when it comes to staging major world-class international events, from Expos and rock festivals to football championships and rallies, nowhere does it better than Lisbon.
And what a show it was. Kicking off with the 21 candidates for Portugal, each area in the running provided a colourful historic and cultural marching pageant around the stadium before unfurling flags and releasing a flock of white doves.
Portuguese singers Dulce Pontes, Mariza, Carlos do Carmo, Camané and Rui Veloso entertained the 37,000 ticket payers, VIP guests and press that filled the Estádio da Luz Benfica Stadium.
The Portuguese Seven Wonders are: Alcobaça Monastery, Jerónimos Monastery, Pena Palace, Batalha Cathedral, Óbidos Castle, the Torre de Belém and Guimarães Castle.
Presaging the main event, a monumental golden book rose from beneath the stage in a feat of epic biblical proportions as the three presenters, Oscar winning Hillary Swank, British actor Ben Kingsley and Indian Bollywood superstar Bipasha Basu took to the stage to present the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and present the 21 candidates for the New Seven Wonders.
One world
Tenor José Carreras, obviously lip-synching to playback, joined Dulce Pontes in performing the specially written anthem One World while a sleekly dressed in black Jennifer Lopez energised the audience with a racy medley of dance hits including Waiting for Tonight, Jenny from the Block and Love Don’t Cost a Thing. “Are you having a good time? Do you feel like dancing? I feel like dancing,” she screamed out to the audience which gave her rapturous applause.
Other performers in fine fettle included the 1970s and 80s gold-clad soul diva Chaka Khan, who proved she could still hit the high notes and belt out a song with the closing anthem, Sam Cooke’s What a Wonderful World immortalised by Louis Armstrong.
Disappointments included the Spanish dancer Joaquín Cortés who failed to dance and simply sat with a group of ethnic musicians, while the actress Hillary Swank had her delivery of the US entry, The Statue of Liberty, drowned out by boos, which were also levelled at the Prime Minister José Sócrates.
Ronaldo
The man who clearly
 Machu Picchu, Peru |
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got the most cheers was Portuguese international footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, while the Mayor of Machu Picchu was also given a standing ovation as much for his colourful costume as his proud and theatrical parading around the stage with his award.
It took a year of planning, 20 days to set up the stadium, 200,000 watts of sound and 50,000 watts of light to put on the event which had counted over 100 million votes from around the world.
The New Seven Wonders of the World are: The Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Machu Picchu, Peru, The Great Wall of China, Petra, Jordan, Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, the Coliseum, Rome, and the Mayan Pyramid of Chichen Itzá, Mexico. The Great Pyramids of Giza are Honorary Wonders of the World.
At the end of the ceremony
 Mayan Pyramid of Chichen Itzá, Mexico |
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it was announced by the organizer and inspiration for the idea, Swiss adventurer and film maker Bernard Weber, that the Seven New Wonders of the Natural World was the next event to be organised and staged.
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