http://www.hasbro.com/games/kid-games/monopoly/

Have your say in the world's first global Monopoly!I'm creating the
world's first global Monopoly so I want to know what your favourite
cities are!

I've pre-selected 68 great cities for you to choose from but you can
nominate any other city you want – these are known as Wildcard
cities.

Vote for your top 10 cities… and keep voting every day!
The 20 pre-selected cities with the highest worldwide votes on
February 29 2008 will make it onto the board. Plus, you will have
from March 1 to March 9 2008 to vote on the most nominated Wildcard
cities. Only the top two will make it on the board!


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?
in_article_id=516148&in_page_id=1770

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?
in_article_id=516148&in_page_id=1770

It is a rivalry that goes back centuries but now France could put an
end to England's hopes of making it onto a global Monopoly board.

The situation is so serious that Culture Minister Tessa Jowell and
London Mayor Ken Livingstone have stepped ensure the capital makes
the cut and represents the nation.

London is currently trailing behind most of the competition and may
fall off the board completely if a scurrilous French campaign is
successful.

Our Continental cousins have reportedly been urging people not to
vote for London in an online poll.

London is ranked eighth with just 2.9 per cent of the vote - behind
cities including Riga in Latvia and Belgrade in Serbia.

Online voting opened earlier this year to choose the 20 greatest
cities in the world to feature on the board and the competition runs
until the end of the month.

The top city will win the coveted dark blue space on the board,
usually occupied by Mayfair.

London initially topped the leader board ahead of Paris but has
plummeted since the campaign began.

Leading French TV and radio presenter Sebastien Cauet imitated a
famous French political speech as he called on people to vote for
Paris and not to vote for London.

London has since fallen to eighth and is occupying the yellow
Leicester Square position.

If it continues to slide at its present rate, it could fall below
Barcelona, which currently lies in 20th place with 2.0 per cent - and
off the board.

Paris meanwhile is sitting pretty in third place with the Turkish
capital Istanbul second and French-speaking Montreal in Canada top.

While patriotic Parisians have been voting for their city in droves,
Londoners seem to be oblivious to their city's plight with an
overwhelming 97 per cent of votes for London cast by people living
outside the UK.

Edinburgh is the most popular city among UK voters with the capital
coming second.

And Britain's growing Polish population appear to be making their
presence felt too.

Little-known Polish city Gydnia, which has a population of just
250,000, is the most popular among UK voters to win one of the two
wildcard spaces on the board.

Shocked internet bloggers are now desperately trying to mount a fight
back for London.

Bloggers at www.londonist.com are warning of a "potential tragedy in
the making".

They write: "We find ourselves flabbergasted, mortified, appalled.

"Show some love, London. Go vote. We all know where our beloved city
belongs on that Monopoly board."

Tessa Jowell and Ken Livingstone have also tried to call on Brits to
support their capital city.

Mrs Jowell said: "London is without a doubt one of the most
fascinating and culturally rich capital cities in the world - a city
that incites loyalty, not just in those who were born here but also
in those who come to make it their home.

"With this in mind I implore all Londoners - and all those who love
London to vote in the Global Monopoly poll."

Mr Livingstone said: "London is one of the greatest and one of the
most influential global cities.

"It is a fascinating mix of history and tradition but is also at the
cutting edge of creativity and innovation.

"Our museums, galleries and theatres are world class and with 300
languages spoken every day on the capital's streets, it is the most
international city on the face of the planet.

"I hope that Londoners and those who appreciate what our great city
has to offer will take part and ensure that London is represented on
the Monopoly board."

The 20 cities with the highest worldwide votes on February 29 will
make it onto the board.

They will be joined by the two most nominated wildcard cities -
currently Gydnia and Tapei in Taiwan.

Helen Martin, global brand director for Monopoly, said: "The final
result of Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition voting may be just
as surprising as the votes conducted in each country.

"It will be exciting to see how the vote will turn out.

"We need people to log on and vote for London - it costs nothing but
the national pride we could generate would be priceless."

CURRENT LEADERBOARD

1 Montreal, Canada (Mayfair)

2 Istanbul, Turkey (Park Lane)

3 Paris, France (Bond Street)

4 Riga, Latvia (Oxford Street)

5 Cape Town, South Africa (Regent Street)

6 Belgrade, Serbia (Piccadilly)

7 Jerusalem, Israel (Coventry Street)

8 London, UK (Leicester Square)

9 New York, USA (Trafalgar Square)

10 Sydney, Australia (Fleet Street)

11 Rome, Italy (Strand)

12 Vancouver, Canada (Vine Street)

13 Athens, Greece (Marlborough Street)

14 Kiev, Ukraine (Bow Street)

15 Hong Kong, China (Northumberland Avenue)

16 Toronto, Canada (Whitehall)

17 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Pall Mall)

18 Cairo, Egypt (Pentonville Road)

19 Tokyo, Japan (Euston Road)

20 Barcelona, Spain (The Angel) Wildcards 21 Gydnia, Poland
(Whitechapel Road) 22 Taipei, Taiwan (Old Kent Road)