PROBLEMAS CON EL MISS MUNDO 2010. EL ORGANIZADOR PRINCIPAL RENUNCIA A ORGANIZARLO EN VIETNAM ESTE AÑO

VietNamNet Bridge – After the success of Miss Universe 2008, Vietnam became the planned destination for the world biggest beauty pageant, Miss World 2010. However, so far plans have not gone smoothly.

The Miss World Organisation's Chairwoman, Miss World 2008 and RAAS Group's Chairman Hoang Kieu at a charity event in Vietnam last year.

On July 9 2008, the Miss World Organization’s Chairwoman Julia Morley and the of the US-based RAAS Group, Hoang Kieu, signed a memorandum of understand for the organization of Miss World 2010 in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province at the witness of Khanh Hoa’s officials. Hoang Kieu also affirmed to pay around $10 million for the rights to hold this event in Nha Trang.

But in late October 2009, Hoang Kieu sent a dispatch to Khanh Hoa authorities, announcing a change of the destination for the pageant. Previously, RAAS planned to build a tourist site of over 1,500 hectares for Miss World 2010, including 2,000 bungalows,

195 houses for contestants, a pool, a golf course, a shopping mall, a resort and a spa.

Then, on January 28 2010, RAAS suddenly withdrew, blaming the move on a lack of co-operation.

Le Xuan Than, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa province, talked about the case.

How did Khanh Hoa know about RAAS’ withdrawal from the Miss World 2010 pageant? Will Khanh Hoa still host the event?

We have just received a fax from the RAAS group yesterday (January 28), which announced its withdrawal from the Miss World 2010 pageant. The document also said that Tien Giang province would not organize this event. Khanh Hoa authorities have not discussed this yet.

Khanh Hoa confirmed that the province would hold this pageant despite RAAS wanting to move the event to Tien Giang province. What are your thoughts on this?

Khanh Hoa is still implementing deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan’s instruction about the place and time for the Miss World pageant. On September 30 2009 the Government Office issued a dispatch allowing Khanh Hoa to host the pageant under the sponsorship of the RAAS Group. The RAAS announcement regarding changing the location was a unilateral decision.

But RAAS’ withdrawal means there is no financial sponsorship for the event. Will Khanh Hoa take care of the expenses for the competition?

The Khanh Hoa People’s Committee has not met to make a final decision. Perhaps next week it will be clear.

How about the purchase of copyright of Miss World pageant from the Miss World Organisation?

As I’ve said. We will have to discuss about this in the upcoming meeting.