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James E. McGreevey |
William D. Watley |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Karen Wolfe - 609.292.2523 |
NEW JERSEY TO HOST
Events to Take Place Tuesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 20 Atlantic City, N.J. (September 2, 2003)—Here she is, Miss America. An annual tradition returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey, which serves each year as host to 51 of the country’s most intelligent and talented young women, all competing for the title of “Miss America.” This year’s events take place Tuesday, September 16, through Saturday, September 20. Rich in tradition and history, Miss America has made Atlantic City her home for 83 years. Today, the Miss America Organization, based in Atlantic City, is the world’s largest scholarship provider for women, making available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance last year alone. Each year, millions of worldwide television viewers watch the finals, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of people who join in the week’s festivities. Preliminary competitions, open to the public, will take place from Tuesday, September 16 through Thursday, September 18 at Historic Boardwalk Hall. The always colorful and exciting Miss America boardwalk parade takes place on Friday, September 19, starting at 6:00 p.m. In addition to festive floats and precision marching bands, spectators all along the boardwalk will get to see all 51 contestants, the reigning Miss America and many previous Miss America titleholders up close and personal. Contestants and previous winners will also “show us their shoes,” which is another part of the annual tradition of the parade. This year, CN8-The Comcast Network will broadcast live coverage of the parade from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EDT). Tom Bergeron, Emmy Award-winner and star of ABC television’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Hollywood Squares” will host the final night of competition in a live 3-hour telecast of “Miss America.” American Idol singing sensation Clay Aiken will also perform. The final competition will take place on Saturday, September 20 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on the ABC television network. In addition to a chance to see the country’s most talented young women, a trip to Miss America offers visitors to Atlantic City the opportunity to experience the city’s world-famous boardwalk, casino resorts, world-class entertainment, beaches and dining for every taste and budget. “The surrounding area offers tourist attractions that one may not necessarily associate with being in or near Atlantic City, ” said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism. “Some examples of the region’s variety can be illustrated in the craft shops and quaint restaurants in the town of Historic Smithville, the beautiful Victorian atmosphere of Cape May, and the Renault Winery, which is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating wineries.” Tickets for Miss America are available through Ticketmaster by calling 1-800-736-1420, logging onto www.Ticketmaster.com, or visiting any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office. For more information on Boardwalk Hall visit www.BoardwalkHall.com. For more information on Miss America, visit www.Miss America.org. More information about the 2003 Miss America Competition can be obtained by contacting the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism at 609-292-2470. Parties interested in receiving a free copy of the 2003 New Jersey Travel Guide can contact the office at 1-800-VISITNJ (847-4865) or visit the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism’s Web site at www.visitnj.org.
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