The official confirmation of Iguazu Falls as one of the New7Wonders of Nature took place today at the Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires. The venue was chosen for its symbolic value as both Argentina and Brazil shared the candidacy of Iguazu Falls during the campaign that ended on 11 November 2011. While making the official confirmation, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, announced that the Official Inauguration events will take place on 25 May (on the Brazil side of Iguazu Falls) and on 26 May (on the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls).
“The unveiling of the New7Wonders/Iguazu monument in the heart of Buenos Aires, on the Misiones square on Avenida 9 de Julio near the famous giant obelisk, will be one of the highlights of the Official Inauguration events that will take place across Brazil and Argentina at the end of May,” said Bernard Weber as he thanked the voters, the Official Supporting Committees and the governments of Argentina and Brazil their commitment to the successful campaign.
Among those attending the event were, Enio Cordeiro, Brazilian ambassador to Argentina, Felipe González, Minister of Tourism in Foz do Iguaçu and Jorge Sanek, director of Itaipu. Argentina was represented by Daniel Aguilera, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Horacio Blodek, Minister of Tourism of Misiones, Patricia Gandini, president of the National Parks Administration, Daniel Crosta, mayor of Iguazu National Park, Sergio Dobrusin, Undersecretary of Strategic Management of Missions, Marcelo Sanchez and Puerto Libertad, mayors of Iguazu, Sergio Ferreira, also director of the Environment and Public Spaces in Buenos Aires, Martin Bocco. The masters of ceremonies were Gilmar Piola of the Itaipu Foundation and Marcelo Almada, coordinator of VotoCataratas.com.
In alphabetical order, the provisional New7Wonders of Nature are Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table Mountain.