 Contestants of Mr World 2007 visit a temple in China, where the competition was held. / Courtesy of Mr. World Organizers |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter
Who is the world's most desirable man? No, it's not Brad Pitt or Hugh Jackman. You'll have to be in Seoul in September to find out.
The city will be playing host to the Mr World 2009 competition for the first time from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3.
Amid the backdrop of the scenery and culture of Korea, men from 80 countries will participate in adventure, sports and style competitions to find out who is worthy of the title of the world's most desirable man.
The Mr World competition is not just about finding the most handsome, charismatic or muscular man in the world, but a truly modern, all-around man.
Throughout the competition, male contestants undergo a series of events that test their strength, stamina, mental agility and determination over two weeks.
One of the most exciting and difficult events is the Extreme Sports Challenge. The contestants' stamina and physical endurance are pushed to new limits. This year, the men will have to conquer a well-known Korean landmark.
The men's cooking skills are also put to the test in the Korean Cooking Challenge. Contestants will try to impress the judges with their skills in cooking Korean dishes.
Only the top male contestants will make it to the Live Stage Final on Oct. 3, where they will be judged based on their performance, style and star quality.
Winning the Mr World title is honor enough, but the winner will also take home a cash prize of $50,000 and the opportunity to sign a lucrative contract.
The finals are being held Oct. 3. The two-hour show will be broadcast live to around 100 countries, with an estimated audience of over 1 billion.
``Mr World is a unique competition, the contestants are all competing against each other for the same title, but underlying this is an atmosphere of sportsmanship, unity and friendship which is what makes the competition such a wonderful experience for all those involved,'' said Julia Morley, chairperson of the Miss World Organization, the group behind the competition.
The Miss World Organization is co-hosting the Mr. World competition with The Hankook Ilbo media group in Korea. The Korea Times is part of the Hankook Ilbo media group, the host of the Miss Korea pageant since 1957.
``I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mrs. Julia Morley and the Miss World Organization for giving us the opportunity to host the Mr World 2009 contest, and I am confident we will build on this partnership in future years. We look forward to hosting a successful Mr World 2009 and welcoming you all to the `Land of the Morning Calm','' said Chang Jae-ku, chairman of The Hankook Ilbo media group, in a statement.
`James Bond-Style' Mr World
Mr World, a biennial competition held since 1996, picks a ``James Bond-style'' contender who represents creativity, leadership and endurance. It incorporates various sports such as a marathon, mountain biking and water skiing in the contest, as well as fundraising activities.
The Mr World 2007 was held in China, where 56 contestants participated in a series of challenges. They ran up a two-kilometer mountain in the rainforest, engaged in a day of sports activities that even Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell described as ``extreme,'' and building a raft in 40 minutes.
The contestants also took lessons from a tai chi master, and showed off kung fu skills at the Nan Shan Temple before a group of Shaolin monks.
Spanish model and sommelier Juan Garcia was named Mr World 2007 and will be visiting Seoul for the upcoming competition.
``Winning Mr World has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has helped create so many opportunities in my life. This year's competition in Seoul looks to be the biggest men's event ever held and I wish all the contestants good luck,'' Garcia said.
For information on how to enter the competition and a list of participating countries, visit www.mrworld.tv.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
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