November 24, 1999

The world will be watching Cyprus in May 2000 when this Mediterranean island hosts the 49th Annual Miss Universe Pageant. The two-hour competition will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and is expected to draw 2.4 billion television viewers internationally.

While Cyprus beats out 12 other countries to host the queen of all beauty contests, in the end it was a natural choice. It was here, after all, that the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, was born. According to the myth, the year was around 1200 B.C. when she emerged from the sea foam at Petra tou Romiou, a majestic boulder that juts up from the south coast. An awestruck Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, later gave Aphrodite a golden apple in recognition of her beauty, unmatched by the other goddesses. With the choice of Cyprus as the venue for the first Miss Universe Pageant of the new millennium, the allure of antiquity seems as strong as ever.

The Miss Universe delegates will come from 85 countries and spend three weeks in Cyprus prior to the competition. The gods themselves couldn’t pick a finer time to enjoy the enchanting blend of history, beauty and legendary hospitality that Cyprus, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, offers visitors. In May, Aphrodite’s seductive touch will be in full force, with perfect temperatures (daytime highs in the upper 20s), uncrowded beaches and a wildflower-strawn countryside all difficult to resist. Many of these spring scenes will be highlighted during the pageant broadcast through pre-taped segments which will feature the contestants. Special millennium celebrations will also be in progress around the time of the pageant, which is stated to take place at the modern Eleftheria Stadium in Lefkosia (Nicosia), the capital. The even will commence at 4 am on Saturday May 13, 2000 (2 am GMT) which corresponds to Friday May 12, 2000, 9pm Eastern Standard Time in the United States (New York time). With celebrities and media from around the world coming to experience the ultimate millennial event firsthand. May is set to be an especially exciting time to savor Cyprus.

The Miss Universe Organization, producer of the Miss Universe Pageant, is a Donald J. Trump and CBS partnership. Mr. Trump is expected to attend the pageant next May.

For general information on travel in Cyprus visit /CTO

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