It's been interesting to see the movement against Sochi, Russia's 2014 Winter Olympics start to focus on the 2018 FIFA World Cup... and now to the Ekaterinburg, Russia's bid to host Expo 2020: a world's fair with the theme of "The Global Mind." The Expo 2020 bid is mentioned in Monday's New York Times article, but what's NOT mentioned is that there are two other cities (in addition to Ekaterinburg, Russia and Dubai, UAE) that are bidding for Expo 2020: Izmir, Turkey and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It's been my impression from talking to insiders that Ekaterinburg and Dubai had the best chances at winning, but I wonder if many countries will start looking at the Izmir and Sao Paulo bids with renewed eyes.
The decision on who will host Expo 2020 will be made in November. Delegates from the 167 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will vote in Paris.
Showing posts with label Expo 2020. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expo 2020. Show all posts
13 August 2013
29 December 2011
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 28: Filmmaker Lisa Seidenberg
Episode 28 of the World's Fair Podcast is now available for download as an MP3 or via iTunes. In it, John McGregor and Urso Chappell talk with filmmaker Lisa Seidenberg about her film about the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair, "I Have Seen the Future."
Urso also gives a brief update on the bidding process for Expo 2017 and Expo 2020.
View the trailer for "I Have Seen the Future" here:
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20 September 2011
Expo 2017 and Expo 2020
Here's the official Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) word on Expo 2017 and Expo 2020:
http://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/articles/general-news/416-second-coordination-meeting-for-candidates-for-an-international-expo-in-2017-and-a-world-expo-in-2020.html
Interesting bits:
- Only 2017 is mention and not the possibility of 2018 for the smaller "recognized" world's fair
- No mention of Houston or Silicon Valley for Expo 2020
- No mention of Yekaterinburg for 2020 even though this sounds like it is definitely in the works.
- Expo 2017 bid deadline is 10 December 2011
- Expo 2020 bid deadline is 02 November 2011
I'm really concerned about the United States' bids for Expo 2020. It seems mostly contingent on the State Department letting us rejoin the BIE. I'm hoping to find out more news from both the Houston and Silicon Valley efforts soon.
http://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/articles/general-news/416-second-coordination-meeting-for-candidates-for-an-international-expo-in-2017-and-a-world-expo-in-2020.html
Interesting bits:
- Only 2017 is mention and not the possibility of 2018 for the smaller "recognized" world's fair
- No mention of Houston or Silicon Valley for Expo 2020
- No mention of Yekaterinburg for 2020 even though this sounds like it is definitely in the works.
- Expo 2017 bid deadline is 10 December 2011
- Expo 2020 bid deadline is 02 November 2011
I'm really concerned about the United States' bids for Expo 2020. It seems mostly contingent on the State Department letting us rejoin the BIE. I'm hoping to find out more news from both the Houston and Silicon Valley efforts soon.
26 March 2011
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 25: Expo 2020 Houston with Manuel Delgado, CEO of Houston World's Fair, Inc.
In episode 25, John McGregor and Urso Chappell talk with the Manuel Delgado, who is working to bring a world's fair to Houston in 2020.
Unfortunately, the audio quality isn't ideal in this podcast, but we had a great conversation and got some great information.
Expo 2020 could be the first world's fair held in the United States since 1984.
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Expo 2020 Houston
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17 February 2011
Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Expo 2010, Expo 2012, and Expo 2020
This week, the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a new document "Another U.S. Deficit - China and America - Public Diplomacy in the Age of the Internet," which includes a great deal of information about United States participation in Expo 2010, the committee's call for a US Pavilion at Expo 2012, and support for re-joining the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to help a US bid for Expo 2020.
Here's the synopsis at the beginning of the document (page 12):
-----
Many Americans now view World Expos as antiquated affairs. The rest of the globe does not, and U.S. ambivalence towards participationunduly offends the host nations. Given that more than 7,000,000 Chinese visited the U.S. Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo in 2010, the lack of effort caused by unnecessary hesitation and delays on the part of the Obama Administration only squandered an unprecedented opportunity to put our best foot forward to an audience over 10 times the size of the number of Chinese who visit the United States in a single year. Although large crowds streamed in, many were disappointed by the low-tech and rather ordinary exhibits inside which failed to demonstrate American technological, scientific and commercial expertise. Those same mistakes should not be repeated in the lead up to the 2012 Expo in Korea. Given recent interest
by Texas and California in hosting the 2020 Expo, the U.S. should seek immediately to re-join the Bureau of International Expositions in order to bid for the 2020 Expo. Consideration should be given to repealing legislation limiting U.S. government involvement in Expos, an action that would give the private sector greater confidence in our efforts and lead to more coherent funding.
----
I'm glad to hear that Congress is looking into the issue of United States participation in world's fairs. Needless to say, I wholeheartedly support the US rejoining the BIE, our country's participation in Expo 2012, and the bids for Expo 2020.
I take a bit of an exception to the Obama Administration being blamed for US Pavilion delays, however, since it was under the Bush Administration that things had stalled. Later in the document, they do point out that it was Hillary Clinton's State Department that finally got the ball rolling.
I think this document brings us a few steps closer to rejoining the BIE, having a US Pavilion at Expo 2012 in Yeosu, and security government support for an Expo 2020 bid.
The full report can be downloaded at:
http://lugar.senate.gov/issues/foreign/diplomacy/ChinaInternet.pdf
-----
Since I wrote this shortly after receiving the document, I've had a chance to read more. As such, here's an addendum:
In the main body of the document, it does refer to Hillary Clinton's efforts to save the pavilion and recognizes the difficulty of continuity between the two administrations. That leads me to think the synopsis on page 12 (of the PDF... labeled page 6) blaming the Obama Administration could be a typo. Later, they refer to the Bush Administration's failure to have a US Pavilion at Hannover's Expo 2000. That's clearly a mistake since George W. Bush did not come into office until January 2001.
Here's the synopsis at the beginning of the document (page 12):
-----
Many Americans now view World Expos as antiquated affairs. The rest of the globe does not, and U.S. ambivalence towards participationunduly offends the host nations. Given that more than 7,000,000 Chinese visited the U.S. Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo in 2010, the lack of effort caused by unnecessary hesitation and delays on the part of the Obama Administration only squandered an unprecedented opportunity to put our best foot forward to an audience over 10 times the size of the number of Chinese who visit the United States in a single year. Although large crowds streamed in, many were disappointed by the low-tech and rather ordinary exhibits inside which failed to demonstrate American technological, scientific and commercial expertise. Those same mistakes should not be repeated in the lead up to the 2012 Expo in Korea. Given recent interest
by Texas and California in hosting the 2020 Expo, the U.S. should seek immediately to re-join the Bureau of International Expositions in order to bid for the 2020 Expo. Consideration should be given to repealing legislation limiting U.S. government involvement in Expos, an action that would give the private sector greater confidence in our efforts and lead to more coherent funding.
----
I'm glad to hear that Congress is looking into the issue of United States participation in world's fairs. Needless to say, I wholeheartedly support the US rejoining the BIE, our country's participation in Expo 2012, and the bids for Expo 2020.
I take a bit of an exception to the Obama Administration being blamed for US Pavilion delays, however, since it was under the Bush Administration that things had stalled. Later in the document, they do point out that it was Hillary Clinton's State Department that finally got the ball rolling.
I think this document brings us a few steps closer to rejoining the BIE, having a US Pavilion at Expo 2012 in Yeosu, and security government support for an Expo 2020 bid.
The full report can be downloaded at:
http://lugar.senate.gov/issues/foreign/diplomacy/ChinaInternet.pdf
-----
Since I wrote this shortly after receiving the document, I've had a chance to read more. As such, here's an addendum:
In the main body of the document, it does refer to Hillary Clinton's efforts to save the pavilion and recognizes the difficulty of continuity between the two administrations. That leads me to think the synopsis on page 12 (of the PDF... labeled page 6) blaming the Obama Administration could be a typo. Later, they refer to the Bush Administration's failure to have a US Pavilion at Hannover's Expo 2000. That's clearly a mistake since George W. Bush did not come into office until January 2001.
13 February 2011
Senate Foreign Relations Report Supports Expo 2020 Bid and Regrets Expo 2010 US Pavilion
On Tuesday, the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee will issue a report. Here are the details:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/uschinadiplomacypoliticseducationrights
Most interesting, for those of us interested in world's fair issues are these lines from the AFP news story:
"The report also faulted the United States for underfunding public diplomacy.
It regretted the quality of the US pavilion at last year's World Expo in Shanghai, which was cobbled together at the last minute using private funds and featured simple films about the United States.
Even if many Americans no longer care about global expositions, the report said, some 70 million people -- most of them Chinese -- visited the Shanghai Expo and seven million went to the US pavilion.
Considering that fewer than one million Chinese visit the United States each year, "the Expo was a squandered opportunity to have maximum impact on our bilateral relationship," the report said.
The report called for the United States to consider changing the law to allow government support for exposition efforts, including for the US pavilion at the 2012 Expo in South Korea, and to make a bid for the 2020 World Expo."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/uschinadiplomacypoliticseducationrights
Most interesting, for those of us interested in world's fair issues are these lines from the AFP news story:
"The report also faulted the United States for underfunding public diplomacy.
It regretted the quality of the US pavilion at last year's World Expo in Shanghai, which was cobbled together at the last minute using private funds and featured simple films about the United States.
Even if many Americans no longer care about global expositions, the report said, some 70 million people -- most of them Chinese -- visited the Shanghai Expo and seven million went to the US pavilion.
Considering that fewer than one million Chinese visit the United States each year, "the Expo was a squandered opportunity to have maximum impact on our bilateral relationship," the report said.
The report called for the United States to consider changing the law to allow government support for exposition efforts, including for the US pavilion at the 2012 Expo in South Korea, and to make a bid for the 2020 World Expo."
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 24: Expo 2020 Silicon Valley Project Lead John Grubb
In episode 24, Urso Chappell and John McGregor talk to the Bay Area Council's John Grubb. He's the project lead for Expo 2020 Silicon Valley, an effort to bring a world's fair to Mountain View, California in 2020.
Expo 2020 would be held in Moffett Field in the heart of Silicon Valley.
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Bay Area Council
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17 January 2011
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 23: BIE Secretary General Vincente Loscertales
In episode 23 of the World's Fair Podcast, Secretary General Vicente Loscertales is our guest.
Mr. Loscertales has been secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) through the last several world's fairs. We talk about his tenure, the importance of expos, and United States participation in the organization.
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Bureau International des Expositions
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23 October 2010
A Special Appeal: Get the USA back into the BIE
Folks from all over the United States are talking about having their city host a world's fair in 2020.
To make this happen, the United States needs to rejoin the BIE, the Bureau International des Expositions, and pay back dues from the years we've missed since pulling out of the organization in 2003.
Contact your senator and representative and tell them to restore funding to the BIE: http://www.USA-BIE.org/
To make this happen, the United States needs to rejoin the BIE, the Bureau International des Expositions, and pay back dues from the years we've missed since pulling out of the organization in 2003.
Contact your senator and representative and tell them to restore funding to the BIE: http://www.USA-BIE.org/
07 October 2010
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 18: The Return of a World's Fair in the United States
Will the United States once again host a world's fair in 2020? Episode 18 of the World's Fair Podcast features a panel discussion in St. Louis discussing what it would take for the United States to get back into the expo game. Panelists include event director Steve Heckler, legendary world's fair pavilion creator Barry Howard, and ExpoMuseum.com's Urso Chappell.
ExpoBids.com - with links to various news stories
Expo2020USA.com
Expo2020.us
LAExpo2020.org
2020WorldsFair.com
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14 September 2010
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 17: Who Will Host Expo 2020?
Episode 17 of the World's Fair Podcast is now up. Who will host Expo 2020? Urso and John talk about the various cities that might be bidding in 2011 or 2012 for the right to host the next large world's fair after Milan's Expo 2020.
ExpoBids.com - with links to various news stories
Expo2020USA.com
Expo2020.us
LAExpo2020.org
2020WorldsFair.com
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12 September 2010
Artist Rendering of Expo 2020 at Moffett Field
Here is an artist rendering released today showing how Moffett Field would look as a world's fair in 2020.
...and a link to today's San Jose Mercury article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16044443
I have to say I'm really excited about the possibilities here. I like the ferry connection that would presumably link to San Francisco and Oakland... and wonder how the site could be linked up to the Caltrain Station across Highway 101. A temporary gondola ride over the freeway would be an interesting solution.
...and a link to today's San Jose Mercury article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16044443
I have to say I'm really excited about the possibilities here. I like the ferry connection that would presumably link to San Francisco and Oakland... and wonder how the site could be linked up to the Caltrain Station across Highway 101. A temporary gondola ride over the freeway would be an interesting solution.
11 September 2010
Moffett Field
It looks like Moffett Field is the proposed location for a Silicon Valley World's Fair in 2020.
It's a great choice if it is available. This site consists of at least 800 acres of federally-owned land. It's already home to NASA, a gigantic awe-inspiring hangar (that they've talked about turning into an air and space museum in the past), some university buildings, and it's right next to the Highway 101 corridor that runs between San Francisco and San José.
There's talk that it could become a new University of California campus after the exposition. That wouldn't be unprecedented. The University of Washington started out its life as the site of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.
With all of the creativity and dynamism that is San Francisco and Silicon Valley, I think it would be an amazing event!
With Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Bay Area Council supporting it, it sounds like it would have the support of government officials (Democrats as well as Republicans) as well as local business. The only other factor is the general population. There will always be folks against any big plan, but I think the vast majority in the Bay Area will support it.
There's word that there will be a major announcement within the week. Let's hope we can find some money soon to support the bid.
It's a great choice if it is available. This site consists of at least 800 acres of federally-owned land. It's already home to NASA, a gigantic awe-inspiring hangar (that they've talked about turning into an air and space museum in the past), some university buildings, and it's right next to the Highway 101 corridor that runs between San Francisco and San José.
There's talk that it could become a new University of California campus after the exposition. That wouldn't be unprecedented. The University of Washington started out its life as the site of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.
With all of the creativity and dynamism that is San Francisco and Silicon Valley, I think it would be an amazing event!
With Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Bay Area Council supporting it, it sounds like it would have the support of government officials (Democrats as well as Republicans) as well as local business. The only other factor is the general population. There will always be folks against any big plan, but I think the vast majority in the Bay Area will support it.
There's word that there will be a major announcement within the week. Let's hope we can find some money soon to support the bid.
08 September 2010
Schwarzenegger calling for the San Francisco Bay Area to host a world's fair in 2020
California's governor is in Shanghai calling for the San Francisco Bay Area to host Expo 2020, the next BIE-sanctioned world's fair after Milan's Expo 2015:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/08/BA7F1FA33H.DTL
This is fantastic news. This would mean we'd have both Democrats and Republicans supporting the effort.
I think we might just have at least two or three credible bids by United States cities for a world's fair in 2020.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/08/BA7F1FA33H.DTL
This is fantastic news. This would mean we'd have both Democrats and Republicans supporting the effort.
I think we might just have at least two or three credible bids by United States cities for a world's fair in 2020.
21 August 2010
The World's Fair Podcast, Episode 15
In Episode 15 of the World's Fair Podcast, John McGregor continues his trip report from Japan where he visited several expo legacy sites. We also listen to audience questions and feedback, including information on how we can bring a world's fair back to the United States in 2020.
Links:
Australian Memorial Hall in Yokkaichi
Expo 70 on ExpoMuseum.com
Expo 75 on ExpoMuseum.com
Expo 85 on ExpoMuseum.com
Expo 2005 on ExpoMuseum.com
Expo 70 Commemorative Organization
Expo 90 Foundation
Foundation Expo '88's Facebook Page
Expo2020USA.com - site with information about the 2020 World's Fair panel discussion in St. Louis
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19 February 2009
Wall Street Journal Article: the United States and World's Fairs Today
The Wall Street Journal today published an article on page one entitled The U.S. Can't Host a World Expo, and Fans Say That's No Fair. The author talked to me about many of these issues and I'm even mentioned in the article. ExpoMuseum was used as a source for some of the interactive graphics.
It's great that these issues are getting this level of attention. However, there are many different issues related to world's fairs here and for a lay audience, it's easy to get them confused.
Issue 1: The United States Pavilion at Expo 2010
I've spoken of this before and I have some hope that there will be a U.S. National Pavilion in Shanghai. We're way behind schedule on this with some pavilions already under construction. I'm hoping a way will be found to fully fund the pavilion soon. It would be a great embarrassment for my country to be unrepresented among nearly 200 other countries. I've written about this issue before. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an unpaid member of the BH&L Group's advisory board.
Issue 2: United States Membership in the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)
I'm glad to see this issue mentioned in the press so soon after the end of the Bush Administration. I'm hoping, years from now, our lapse in membership will be seen as an historical blip. It's a lot easier to unjoin than join, however. My understanding is that it will mean a new treaty. I created the web site USA-BIE.org to spotlight this issue.
Issue 3: A United States City Hosting a World's Fair
It's been unclear to me for a few years now whether a United States city can host an international exposition without the United States being a member of the BIE. I think, technically, it can, but it would certainly make it more difficult for a bidding city to win. One issue that wasn't brought up was that of a North American city bidding (and winning) the right to host an expo. Queretaro, Mexico bid for Expo 2010 and it seems likely that a Canadian city will bid for Expo 2017. I think a Canadian or Mexican world's fair would certainly stoke interest in the United States.
I see San Francisco as being particularly well suited to hosting a world's fair in the coming years. To that end, I created 2020WorldsFair.com to stoke interest and start a conversation. The article might give the impression that I've received little interest in a world's fair here, but to be completely honest, bidding for 2020 wouldn't begin until around 2011 at the earliest. Politics can change very quickly in this town and it's unclear who the political and economic players will be in the next 2, 5, or 11 years.
Reading some of the comments to this article, as well as comments I've read elsewhere, it seems clear to me that most of the United States audience that does know about world's fairs, sees them as mostly through the lens of nostalgia. A world's fair in our own times would be totally unlike one from the '60's... which were different from the '30's... which were different from the 19th Century.
Many things have changed in the last few decades. The Olympics, museums, theme parks, and live entertainment have all changed with the times and are all seen as just as relevant today as they were years ago. International expositions, as a medium, combine these and more. Arguments that we don't "need" world's fairs now that we have the internet and jet travel just don't stand up to scrutiny when you look at other mediums such as these. If people no longer liked to experience things in person, we would have seen a decline in museum visits, theme park visit, or live entertainment attendance in the last few decades.
It's great that these issues are getting this level of attention. However, there are many different issues related to world's fairs here and for a lay audience, it's easy to get them confused.
Issue 1: The United States Pavilion at Expo 2010
I've spoken of this before and I have some hope that there will be a U.S. National Pavilion in Shanghai. We're way behind schedule on this with some pavilions already under construction. I'm hoping a way will be found to fully fund the pavilion soon. It would be a great embarrassment for my country to be unrepresented among nearly 200 other countries. I've written about this issue before. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an unpaid member of the BH&L Group's advisory board.
Issue 2: United States Membership in the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)
I'm glad to see this issue mentioned in the press so soon after the end of the Bush Administration. I'm hoping, years from now, our lapse in membership will be seen as an historical blip. It's a lot easier to unjoin than join, however. My understanding is that it will mean a new treaty. I created the web site USA-BIE.org to spotlight this issue.
Issue 3: A United States City Hosting a World's Fair
It's been unclear to me for a few years now whether a United States city can host an international exposition without the United States being a member of the BIE. I think, technically, it can, but it would certainly make it more difficult for a bidding city to win. One issue that wasn't brought up was that of a North American city bidding (and winning) the right to host an expo. Queretaro, Mexico bid for Expo 2010 and it seems likely that a Canadian city will bid for Expo 2017. I think a Canadian or Mexican world's fair would certainly stoke interest in the United States.
I see San Francisco as being particularly well suited to hosting a world's fair in the coming years. To that end, I created 2020WorldsFair.com to stoke interest and start a conversation. The article might give the impression that I've received little interest in a world's fair here, but to be completely honest, bidding for 2020 wouldn't begin until around 2011 at the earliest. Politics can change very quickly in this town and it's unclear who the political and economic players will be in the next 2, 5, or 11 years.
Reading some of the comments to this article, as well as comments I've read elsewhere, it seems clear to me that most of the United States audience that does know about world's fairs, sees them as mostly through the lens of nostalgia. A world's fair in our own times would be totally unlike one from the '60's... which were different from the '30's... which were different from the 19th Century.
Many things have changed in the last few decades. The Olympics, museums, theme parks, and live entertainment have all changed with the times and are all seen as just as relevant today as they were years ago. International expositions, as a medium, combine these and more. Arguments that we don't "need" world's fairs now that we have the internet and jet travel just don't stand up to scrutiny when you look at other mediums such as these. If people no longer liked to experience things in person, we would have seen a decline in museum visits, theme park visit, or live entertainment attendance in the last few decades.
19 August 2008
Random World's Fair News Notes
I've run across several world's fair stories recently.
Various American Cities 1933-1940:
The National Building Museum will host an exhibit entitled "Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s." It opens in October 2009.
New York 1939-1940:
The New York Times has an interesting article about a bomb that killed two city detectives in the British Pavilion. The case remains unsolved.
Seattle 1962:
The monorail from Seattle's 1962 Century 21 Exposition will soon be returned to its original condition.
New York 1964-1965:
I had no idea that pita bread was introduce to the United States at the 1964-'65 New York World's Fair.
Spokane 1974:
The Seattle Times writes about Spokane's Riverfront Park, legacy site of Expo 74.
Man Belongs to the Earth, a film from the United States Pavilion is available on YouTube. It's an early example of environmentalist messaging from the first world's fair with an environmental theme.
Shanghai 2010:
France has set up it's Expo 2010 pavilion web site .
(Unknown) 2020:
Copenhagen might bid for Expo 2020.
The Gotthard Region of Switzerland might also bid for Expo 2020.
Various American Cities 1933-1940:
The National Building Museum will host an exhibit entitled "Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s." It opens in October 2009.
New York 1939-1940:
The New York Times has an interesting article about a bomb that killed two city detectives in the British Pavilion. The case remains unsolved.
Seattle 1962:
The monorail from Seattle's 1962 Century 21 Exposition will soon be returned to its original condition.
New York 1964-1965:
I had no idea that pita bread was introduce to the United States at the 1964-'65 New York World's Fair.
Spokane 1974:
The Seattle Times writes about Spokane's Riverfront Park, legacy site of Expo 74.
Man Belongs to the Earth, a film from the United States Pavilion is available on YouTube. It's an early example of environmentalist messaging from the first world's fair with an environmental theme.
Shanghai 2010:
France has set up it's Expo 2010 pavilion web site .
(Unknown) 2020:
Copenhagen might bid for Expo 2020.
The Gotthard Region of Switzerland might also bid for Expo 2020.
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