The Great Wall, the Colosseum and Machu Picchu are among the leading contenders to be among the new Seven Wonders of the World as a massive poll enters final month. Also in the top 10 are Greece’s Acropolis, Mexico’s Chichen Itza pyramid, the Eiffel Tower, Easter Island, Brazil’s Statue of Christ Redeemer, the Taj Mahal and Jordan’s Petra, organizers said.
The Great Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving structures from the original seven wonders of the ancient world, are assured of keeping their status in addition to the new seven after indignant. Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace they had to compete for a spot.
The winners will be announced on July 7 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Latin Americans and Asians have been the most enthusiastic voters so far in the final round of 20 candidates, but people from every country in the world have voted by Internet or phone.
“It’s the first ever global vote” said Tia B. Viering, spokeswoman for the “New 7 Wonders of the World” campaign.
The organizers are hoping for a final surge of voting from the United States and Europe to make the selection truly global.
“At the moment, most of the voting I coming from Latin America and Asia,” Viering said. Organizers are confident the campaign will draw more attention in the U.S. and Europe in the final phase.
“Excitement is starting to pick up in the United States” because the campaign is getting much attention worldwide and Americans are starting to realize how positive it is, she said.
Rome’s Colosseum, China’s Great Wall, Peru’s Machu Picchu, India’s Taj Mahal and Jordan’s Petra have been among the leaders since January, while the Acropolis and the Statue of Christ Redeemer made their way up from the middle of the field to the top level, according to latest tallies. The United States’ Statue of Liberty and Australia’s Sydney Opera House are also on the list.
The ancient city of Petra in southwestern Jordan – popularized by “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and famous for its waters tunnels and stone structures carved in the rock – jumped from the middle of the pack to the top seven in January thanks to campaigning by the Jordanian royal family and thousands of Jordanians voting by text message, Viering said.
Choosing world wonders Cultural Organizations, or UNESCO, constantly updates its list of World Heritage Sites has been a fascination over the centuries. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and, which now totals 830 places.
“It’s so exciting,” said Viering. “There are not many things that could bring the world together like global culture. This is really something that every single person in the world can be interested in.”
From an article in Look Out newspaper.