Current:Home > BackHigh stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host-InfoLens
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
View Date:2024-12-23 20:08:00
PARIS (AP) — In a high-profile showdown, Rome, Busan and Riyadh are the top contenders to become the host city of the 2030 World Expo as the organizing body prepares to hold a vote in the French capital on Tuesday.
With the stakes high, each city has escalated its campaign efforts, showcasing unique visions and ambitious promises to secure the rights to the globally prestigious event.
Rome has enlisted actor Russell Crowe, who appeared in a promotional video echoing his “Gladiator” persona, to underscore the city’s readiness for the Expo.
The Rome campaign also hosted delegates from the organizing body, the Bureau International des Expositions, or BIE, at Paris’ luxurious Plaza Athenee hotel. They were also treated to a Michelin-starred meal and gifts of extra virgin olive oil.
The head of the Italian bid, Giampiero Massolo, said Tuesday that Italy was fighting “for every single vote, with the goal of going to a runoff, in a head-to-head with Busan.”
Rome’s bid also includes plans for the world’s largest urban solar park and a green corridor connecting the Expo site to historic landmarks like the Appia Antica (Appian Way), one of the oldest and most important roads of the Roman Empire.
The South Korean port city of Busan has brought in cultural heavyweights like “Gangnam Style” rapper Psy and K-pop supergroup BTS to bolster its bid. The city is positioning itself for a high-tech Expo, emphasizing its capabilities in artificial intelligence and 6G technology with the aim of attracting millions of visitors and spurring job creation.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh has mounted a significant marketing campaign, featuring a “Riyadh 2030” exhibit near the Eiffel Tower and extensive advertising across Paris. The Saudi bid, seeking to diversify the kingdom’s economy and boost its international stature, has received support from French President Emmanuel Macron, as indicated in a July statement from the Elysee Palace.
The World Expo has a storied history of bringing together nations to showcase technological innovations and cultural achievements. Since the inaugural event in 1851, Expos have been platforms for introducing groundbreaking inventions such as the light bulb, the Ferris wheel and the Eiffel Tower itself, which was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
These events have evolved to not only be celebrations of human ingenuity, but also opportunities for host cities to catalyze economic growth and global recognition.
With the world’s attention turned to Paris, the upcoming vote will set the stage for the next chapter in the rich legacy of the World Expos. The next Expo is scheduled to be held in Osaka, Japan, in 2025.
___
John Leicester in Paris, Frances D’Emilio in Rome, and Colleen Barry in Milan, contributed to this report.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- New York races to revive Manhattan tolls intended to fight traffic before Trump can block them
- Klaus Teuber, creator behind popular Catan board game, dies at age 70
- Toronto International Film Festival announces 2023 movie lineup amid Hollywood strikes
- Liftoff! Jeff Bezos And 3 Crewmates Travel To Space And Back In Under 15 Minutes
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- Survivors Laud Apple's New Tool To Spot Child Sex Abuse But The Backlash Is Growing
- South African Facebook Rapist caught in Tanzania after police manhunt
- Feel Like You're Addicted To Your Phone? You're Not Alone
- Biden funded new factories and infrastructure projects, but Trump might get to cut the ribbons
- An Economist's Advice On Digital Dependency
Ranking
- Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election
- Federal Trade Commission Refiles Suit Accusing Facebook Of Illegal Monopoly
- More Than 30 States Sue Google Over 'Extravagant' Fees In Google Play Store
- Easter avalanche in French Alps kills 6, authorities say
- US inflation may have picked up in October after months of easing
- Instagram Accidentally Blocked Elaine Thompson-Herah For Posting Her Own Sprint Wins
- Instagram Apologizes After Removing A Movie Poster Because It Shows A Nipple
- Man sentenced to prison for abuse of woman seen chained up in viral video that drew outcry in China
Recommendation
-
New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
-
Shawn Mendes and Sabrina Carpenter Leave Miley Cyrus' Album Release Party Together
-
How New Biden Rules Could Make It Easier To Buy Hearing Aids Or Fix Your Phone
-
China conducting military drills near Taiwan, says they serve as a stern warning
-
Judge sets date for 9/11 defendants to enter pleas, deepening battle over court’s independence
-
Oof, Y'all, Dictionary.com Just Added Over 300 New Words And Definitions
-
Fake Vaccination Cards Were Sold To Health Care Workers On Instagram
-
The Stars of Top Gun Then and Now Will Take Your Breath Away