Celine
Dion Cancels China Concert
4/2/08
Celine Dion has been forced to cancel a concert in China because organizers
in Beijing failed to obtain official permission to host the gig - despite
selling thousands of tickets.
The My Heart Will Go On star was due to perform in the Chinese capital
on 13 April (08) at the 64,000-seat Workers Stadium.
It had initially been reported the singer postponed the concert because
of a throat infection, which has already seen her scrap a string of dates
in Australia.
But a representative for Dion has hit back at the claims, insisting the
concert has not been cancelled due to illness and leveled the blame onto
the Chinese officials charged with organizing the event.
The spokesperson tells Chinese newspaper the Beijing Evening News,
"(The concert organizer) had sold more than 10,000 tickets, having
not carried out the approval process.
"Celine Dion will solve (the issue) through legal channels."
A new date for the concert has yet to be announced, but the publication
reports Dion will still come to the country in April (08) to participate
in a promotional event for the forthcoming Olympic Games which will be
held in the city in August (08).
Dion's world tour is her first in a decade following her five-year
stint at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, which was brought to a spectacular
close last year (07).