Oprah Winfrey becomes ‘unofficial ambassador for Australia’

Oprah Winfrey, taping episodes of her talk show outside the United States for the first time in 24 years, appointed herself as Australia’s new global ambassador on Tuesday.

“I have named myself an unofficial ambassador for Australia and I have the biggest mouth on earth,” she announced before thousands of screaming fans outside Sydney’s Opera House, now called as “Oprah House”, ahead of two episodes of her show.

The famous talk show host said her visit to the Land Down Under, with more than 300 American audience participants, would create a great publicity for the nation, meaning, a boost to Australia’s tourism.

“I know that there’s a lot of talk and concern in this country as to what this will mean for Tourism Australia.”

“Let me just tell you — this is the truth: It is immeasurable what four hours of a love festival about your country, broadcast in 145 countries around the world, can do,” she said, as 6,000 fans waited for her and her guest stars to appear on stage.

Winfrey welcomed special guests Tuesday, including Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Jay-Z and Bon Jovi, on her stage beneath the Opera House beside Sydney Harbour.

“What I know for sure is that what will happen is that people… who had never even thought about Australia, didn’t know where it was… will have the seed planted in their hearts,” Oprah said.

Chief executive of Qantas Airlines, Alan Joyce, which supported Oprah’s Australian escapade along with Tourism Australia, agreed that, “It’s probably one of the best tourism initiatives Australia will ever make.”