by ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France (AP) – Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh was chosen Tuesday to host the 2030 World Expo after its bid focused on shaping a prosperous and sustainable future, beating Rome and a port city Busan in South Korea for a period of time. an event expected to attract millions of visitors.
Members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions chose Riyadh with a majority of 119 out of 165 votes during a closed meeting in the suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux. Busan received 29 votes and Rome 17. The Saudi delegation welcomed the result.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, welcomed the vote as “an expression of the confidence of the international community in what we have to offer… but also in alignment with our own vision (for) 2030 and all which we recommend. as, which is a shared path to prosperity for all the countries of the world.”
“We are committed to meeting expectations and delivering an extraordinary expo,” he said.
Grand Arabia’s plans include a public transport network and a futuristic global space with public parks, gaming facilities, large-scale performance stages and sports venues. The project includes a focus on “accelerating innovations” to preserve natural ecosystems.
“The legacy of Riyadh Expo 2030 will go beyond the buildings,” Prince Faisal said, promising “amazing” architecture. “We mean a journey, a journey that brings the world together… so that will be our legacy, working together for a brighter and more prosperous future.”
Saudi Arabia hopes the Expo will bring 40 million visitors to its capital.
With the stakes high, each city stepped up its campaign efforts, presenting unique visions and ambitious commitments to secure the rights to the world-renowned event.
Saudi Arabia mounted a significant marketing campaign, which included a “Riyadh 2030” exhibition near the Eiffel Tower and extensive advertising throughout Paris. The Saudi offer, seeking to diversify the kingdom’s economy and boost its international status, had received official support from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Some activists criticized Riyadh’s candidacy amid allegations of human rights abuses by the country, including the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
US intelligence agencies assess Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the killing, something Riyadh has denied as it pushes ahead with the prince’s massive series of construction projects aimed at transforming the kingdom’s oil-controlled economy slowly.
In a statement, Prince Mohammed cited the Expo as an opportunity to further his development plans. Dubai, which held the pandemic-delayed Expo 2020 in 2021, is now using its $7 billion site to host the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks this week. Saudi Arabia plans to spend about $7.8 billion itself to build the Expo site.
“Saudi Arabia is a great destination for hosting major international events, including the prestigious World Expo,” the prince said in a statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
The decision also comes as Saudi Arabia is confirmed to host the 2034 FIFA men’s World Cup.
Rome enlisted actor Russell Crowe, who appeared in a promotional video echoing his “Gladiator” persona, to highlight the city’s readiness for the Expo. Rome’s bid included plans for the world’s largest urban solar park and a green corridor linking the Expo site with historic landmarks such as the Appia Antica (Appian Way), one of the oldest and most important roads in the Roman Empire.
The South Korean port city of Busan brought in cultural heavyweights like “Gangnam Style” rapper Psy and K-pop supergroup BTS to bolster its bid. The city positioned itself for a high-tech Expo, highlighting its capabilities in artificial intelligence and 6G technology with the aim of attracting millions of visitors and encouraging job creation.
In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Saudi Arabia while apologizing for failing to bring the Expo to his country.
“I sincerely congratulate our key partner Saudi Arabia for the successful completion of the much-anticipated Riyadh Expo,” Yoon said Wednesday in a televised speech in Seoul. “As the president who oversaw and was responsible for our campaign to host the Expo, I want to say again that I am truly sorry for disappointing our people, including the citizens of Busan.”
The World Expo has a great history of bringing nations together to showcase technological innovations and cultural achievements. Since the first event in 1851, Expos have been platforms for the introduction of groundbreaking inventions such as the light bulb, the Ferris wheel and the Eiffel Tower itself, built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
These events evolved not only to celebrate human ingenuity, but also opportunities for host cities to stimulate economic growth and global recognition.
They usually take place every five years, with the next one scheduled for Osaka, Japan, in 2025.
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Adamson reported from Paris. John Leicester in Paris, Frances D’Emilio in Rome, Colleen Barry in Milan, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, with this report.
