San Francisco's seventh annual Webby Award ceremony has been cancelled and replaced with an online event after concerns that not enough people would attend.

Organisers put the cancellation down to a number of factors including economic instability and a general reluctance to travel after recent global events.

The most well known awards ceremony for the web community, the Webby Awards honour web sites across the world in 30 categories from news and music to technical achievement. Winners are selected by members of the Institute of Digital Arts & Sciences according to particular creative and technical criteria.

The ceremony was due to be held on 5 June (2003) at the city's circus theatre Teatro ZinZanni, and would have featured 24 international nominees - a record number of overseas representatives.

In a statement on their official site, academy executive director Maya Draisin explained the decision was taken in response to concerns expressed by nominees.

"Our nominees now reflect a truly global web and we're facing new considerations in light of everything that's happening in the world. Presenting the awards in San Francisco without all of the nominees present is not true to the spirit of the Webbys, so we decided to bring the Webby Awards to them instead."

The organisers also stated that fears over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are discouraging travellers, both in the US and internationally.

Organisers are expected to release further details about the online ceremony in the next few weeks.

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Vote for Webby Awards nominees until 23 May 03 - http://www.webbyawards.com/peoplesvoice/