ID :
248832
Tue, 07/24/2012 - 08:03
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Empire State Building To Illuminate Tower Lights In Celebration Of M'sia Competing In London

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, July 24 (Bernama) -- One of New York's best-known landmarks, the Empire State Building (ESB), will honour Malaysia as one of the nations competing in the Olympic Games in London by putting on its world-famous tower lights. Between July 26 and August 12, the ESB will illuminate each night the flag colours of a number of countries participating in London. The colours of Malaysia's flag – red, white and blue – will be illuminated on Aug 9 at the tower's east side. The famed tower's four sides – north, south, east and west - will illuminate the sky with colours of the competing countries' flags each night throughout the competition. This is the second time that the ESB has split the tower's sides with four separate countries' lights in its history. In the case of Malaysia, the lights will reflect the red, white and blue colours of the Malaysian flag on Aug 9 at the tower's east side. "We are proud to shine our iconic tower lights to celebrate the countries competing in London," said Anthony E. Malkin of the Empire State Building. In the past, the ECB had illuminated its tower with the colours of the Malaysian flag to mark Malaysia's national day. The tower lights are switched off at 2.00am daily. The ESB celebrates many cultures and causes in the world community with iconic lightings. A spokesman told Bernama that the ESB's tower lights recognised key milestones, events, charitable organisations, countries and holidays throughout the world, not political or religion-related events. The ESB is privately owned by Empire State Building Company, L.L.C. (ESBC); contrary to the widespread belief, it is not owned or run by the City or State of New York. "The ESB's official Lighting Partner programme was established after the prior managing agent was replaced in August 2006. Its policies and practices are subject to change in accord with ownership's preferences," the spokesman explained. According to the ESB, a large number of foreign visitors, including from Southeast Asia, visit the tower. Many Malaysian visitors have stated that the visit to the ESB tower is somewhat analogous to the ride up the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur to get an exciting view of the city. The ESB has also been visited by many foreign statesmen, dignitaries, diplomats, industrialists, Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities, and tourists from around the world. Many Malaysian visitors to the ESB get excited to know that this tower was made famous by the climax of the world-renowned Hollywood block-buster film, King Kong. -- BERNAMA

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