Miss World 2013 Final: Venue Shifted to Bali as Hardliner Muslims Decry Pageant
The Miss World 2013 Final will be held in Bali in what has been described as a last moment decision by the organisers amid growing protests against the pageant in Indonesia.
Earlier, the finale had been scheduled to take place at the Sentul International Convention Center, located on the outskirts of Indonesian capital, Jakarta. According to the organisers, the preparation for the pageant's final in Jakarta had been already done three months ago, and all the tickets were sold.
However, the official website of Miss World Organisation clearly states that the Miss World 2013 final will happen on 28 September in Bali. Bali also hosted the opening ceremony of the pageant.
The pageant, currently in its 63rd edition, has drawn huge criticism from the hardliner Muslims in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. The protesters have condemned the beauty contest saying, "Reject Miss World" and "Miss World Go To Hell."
The decision to host the closing ceremony of Miss World 2013 in Bali, the only Hindu-dominated province in Indonesia, may have been taken because of the protests. However, when IBTimes UK contacted the Miss World Organisation office in London to know about the actual cause for the change in venue, there was no response.
Notwithstanding any assumptions, the Balinese authorities had hinted at the possibility of a change in venue of the Miss World finale during the opening ceremony of the pageant.
"We and other security forces should be prepared. We have to keep the face of Indonesia in the eyes of the world," former police chief of Bali said.
Miss World contestants confined to Bali
The Miss World 2013 pageant has been confined to Bali ever since it began early September with the arrival of contestants on the island.
Initially, only the first round of activities of the pageant had been planned to happen in Bali in the first week from the arrival of contestants. However, their stay in Bali gradually got extended with all the activities happening there.
While the Miss World 2013 contestants visited temples and ancient places in Bali, they were also supposed to visit iconic locations in Jakarta over the month-long pageant, according to organisers.
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