The Miss World organization announced on Thursday, December 16 that the 2021 pageant has been postponed due to COVID-19. Here is what we know so far about the cancellation and if it will be rescheduled.
According to the official statement released early this afternoon, it says:
Miss World 2021 temporarily postpones global broadcast finale in Puerto Rico due to health and safety interest of contestants, staff, crew and general public
The finale will be rescheduled at Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot within the next 90 days
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - After meeting with the virologists and medical experts hired to oversee the Miss World 2021 event and discussing with the Puerto Rico Health Department, the decision has been made by the organizers of the event to postpone the globally broadcast finale at the Puerto RicoColiseum Jose Miguel Agrelot to be held within the next 90 days.
As of yesterday, additional safety measures were implemented in the best interest of the contestants, production team and spectators, understanding the event increased risks on the stage and in the dressing room. However, after additional positive cases were confirmed this morning after consulting with health officials and experts, the postponement decision was made.
The next step according to the medical experts is immediate quarantine, pending observation and further testing according to best practices in situations like this.
Once and only when contestants and staff are cleared by health officials and advisors, will contestants and related staff return to their home countries.
“We are very much looking forward to the return of our contestants, (who we have grown to know and love), to compete for the Miss World crown” said Julia Morley, CEO of Miss World Ltd. Puerto Rico offers a safe environment and a spectacular backdrop for filming the Miss World Festival !”
The press release reads, “After meeting with the virologists and medical experts hired to oversee the Miss World 2021 event and discussing with the Puerto Rico Health Department, the decision has been made by the organizers of the event to postpone the globally broadcast finale at the Puerto RicoColiseum Jose Miguel Agrelot to be held within the next 90 days.”
It continued, “As of yesterday, additional safety measures were implemented in the best interest of the contestants, production team and spectators, understanding the event increased risks on the stage and in the dressing room. However, after additional positive cases were confirmed this morning after consulting with health officials and experts, the postponement decision was made.”
So, the good news is the organization believes it can reschedule the pageant within the next three months, though obviously, that will depend upon the situation with COVID-19.
The press release said that the next step for everyone involved is “immediate quarantine, pending observation and further testing according to best practices in situations like this.
“Once and only when contestants and staff are cleared by health officials and advisors, will contestants and related staff return to their home countries,” read the statement.
“We are very much looking forward to the return of our contestants, (who we have grown to know and love), to compete for the Miss World crown,” said Julia Morley, CEO of Miss World Ltd, in a statement. “Puerto Rico offers a safe environment and a spectacular backdrop for filming the Miss World Festival!”
Source: https://heavy.com/entertainment/miss-world-pageant-2021-postponed-covid/
(Photo: Miss World 2019 Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh / Getty Images)