DOHA: Doha is one of the 28 finalists in the New7Wonders Cities global campaign.
Doha is the only city in the GCC region short-listed out of more than 1,200 nominees from over 220 countries.
Announcing the finalists on Monday, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation, said the campaign recognises “cities that best represent achievements and aspirations of our global urban civilisation.” According to its website, New7Wonders said the finalists were chosen by popular vote and advised by a panel of experts.
The other finalists include Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Barcelona, Spain; Beirut, Lebanon; Casablanca, Morocco; Chicago, the US; Durban, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Istanbul, Turkey; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kyoto, Japan; La Paz, Bolivia; London, the UK; Mendoza, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Mumbai, India; Perth, Australia; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Prague, Czech Republic; Quito, Ecuador; Reykjavik, Iceland; St Petersburg, Russia; Seoul, South Korea; Shenzhen, China; and Vancouver, Canada.
“This outstanding shortlist of 28 cities mirrors the diversity of urban society, especially when, for the first time in history, more than half of our planet’s population lives in cities. Going forward, the campaign will encourage debate about how cities should respond to challenges of the present and the future,” said Weber.
The new seven wonders cities will be determined through global election, which will run across three elimination phases culminating on December 7, 2014 when the winners will be revealed. New7Wonders Cities is the third global vote organised by New7Wonders and follows the New7Wonders of the World and New7Wonders of Nature campaigns.
Established in 2001, the New7Wonders Foundation aims at contributing to the protection of the world’s human-built and natural heritage and fostering respect for the planet’s diversity. The Peninsula
