Bemusement - The Attractions Industry Blog

Friday, May 16, 2008 “The Biggest Water Festival on Earth” Zaragoza Expo 08 opens June 14 Less than a month from now, the next world's fair will open its gates to the public for a three-month run, from 14 June to 14 September, 2008. The theme of the expo is “Water and Sustainable Development.” Commissioner General of Expo 08, on behalf of the government of Spain, is H.E. Mr. Emilio Fernandez-Castaño y Diaz Caneja.

The corporation formed in 2005 to organize and operate the event, and implement the post-use plan, is Expoagua Zaragoza 2008, headed by company president Roque Gistau. Another special entity formed is the Expo Zaragoza 2008 Consortium, with the purpose of coordinating the various governmental and public and private entities involved. After closing day, the 25-hectare site, located west of the city on the banks of the Ebro river, will be converted to a business park, re-using many of the expo pavilions. Estudio Lamela and the Master de Ingeniería y Arquitectura studio have been commissioned with the design and engineering aspect of the restructuring. Consultants Jones Lang and King Sturge are contracted for adapting the interior spaces for commercial use. Expo organizers have made the most of the occasion by also developing a 120-hectare “Water Park” close to the expo site, a green space supporting a variety of leisure activities. This forms a substantial additional legacy component to the expo. Official participants include 106 countries (the US is not on the list) and 19 regions of Spain. Here's an interesting English-language blog that showcases many of the pavilions and discusses various treatments of the expo theme. And here is a comprehensive overview of the event with details of the site, pavilions and more. With all the unsettling evidence that Earth's water supply is seriously endangered, the “water” theme is timely and topical. It builds upon the “oceans” theme of Lisbon Expo 98 – and, for that matter, the “fresh water” theme of New Orleans Expo 84. Water isn't a subject that can be exhausted – it's a matter of great importance and urgency to all. In general, environmental themes are appropriate for world's fairs. These international events garner participation from the highest levels of government, and often significant corporate participation as well. While the public is taking in the exhibits and entertainment, there are government and business interests mingling in the VIP lounges. Does something of the theme and its ideals find its way into their conversations? We hope so. There are a lot of world expos coming up. Just two years after Zaragoza is Shanghai Expo 2010, set to run from 1 May to 31 October, with a theme of “Better City, Better Life.” Two years after that, the gates open for Yeosu 2012, scheduled for a three-month run 12 May – 12 August. The Yeosu expo theme is “The Living Ocean and Coast.” (Yeosu marks the second world expo hosted by Korea – the first was Taejon Expo 93.) Gastronomes everywhere are looking forward to Milan 2015 with its “Feeding the Planet” theme. It will run six months, 1 May – 31 October. These events are all registered with the BIE, the Paris-based organization that regulates expos. Related articles: The Expo Book , The Eye, The Dome, and the Expo, US Should Get Back in the Expo Game, US Pavilion at Shanghai 2010?
Posted By Judith Rubin -- At 7:08 PM \| Comments (0) \| Trackbacks (0)
Categories Unclassified Tags Expo, Milan, Shanghai, Zaragoza
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