2010 Expo: Volunteers to welcome world
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Universal Exposition or Expo is the name given to various large public exhibitions held since the mid-19th century. They are the third largest event in the world in terms of economic and cultural impact after the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. They have been organized for more than one and a half centuries — longer than both the (modern) Olympic Games and the World Cup.
The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851 under the title “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations”. “The Great Exhibition”, as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, and was the first international exhibition of manufactured products. As such, it influenced the development of several aspects of society including art and design education, international trade and relations, and even tourism . Also, it was the precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called “World’s Fairs”, which were subsequently held to the present day. In Acapulco, New Spain (Mexico), annual fairs took place for several centuries where countries from Asia exhibited their products brought to the New World by the Spanish Royal Navy Nao de China.
The main attractions at World's Fairs are the national pavilions, created by participating countries. At Expo 2000 Hanover, where countries created their own architecture, the average pavilion investment was around €13 million.
Given these costs, governments are sometimes skeptical about participation as benefits are often assumed not to outweigh the costs. Tangible effects are difficult to measure; however, an independent study for the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated the pavilion (which cost around € 35 million) generated around € 350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy. It also identified several key success factors for world exposition pavilions in general.
Since the signing of the 1928 Convention on International Exhibitions, the Bureau International des Expositions has served as an international sanctioning body. BIE-approved fairs are divided into a number of types: universal, international or specialized. They usually last between three and six months.
The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851 under the title “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations”. “The Great Exhibition”, as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, and was the first international exhibition of manufactured products. As such, it influenced the development of several aspects of society including art and design education, international trade and relations, and even tourism . Also, it was the precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called “World’s Fairs”, which were subsequently held to the present day. In Acapulco, New Spain (Mexico), annual fairs took place for several centuries where countries from Asia exhibited their products brought to the New World by the Spanish Royal Navy Nao de China.
The main attractions at World's Fairs are the national pavilions, created by participating countries. At Expo 2000 Hanover, where countries created their own architecture, the average pavilion investment was around €13 million.
Given these costs, governments are sometimes skeptical about participation as benefits are often assumed not to outweigh the costs. Tangible effects are difficult to measure; however, an independent study for the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated the pavilion (which cost around € 35 million) generated around € 350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy. It also identified several key success factors for world exposition pavilions in general.
Since the signing of the 1928 Convention on International Exhibitions, the Bureau International des Expositions has served as an international sanctioning body. BIE-approved fairs are divided into a number of types: universal, international or specialized. They usually last between three and six months.
Brief Introduction of World Expo Shanghai
World Expositions are galleries of human inspirations and thoughts. Since 1851 when the Great Exhibition of Industries of All Nations was held in London, the World Expositions have attained increasing prominence as grand events for economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges, serving as an important platform for displaying historical experience, exchanging innovative ideas, demonstrating esprit de corps and looking to the future.
With a long civilisation, China favours international exchange and loves world peace. China owes its successful bid for the World Exposition in 2010 to the international community's support for and confidence in its reform and opening-up. The Exposition will be the first registered World Exposition in a developing country, which gives expression to the expectations the world's people place on China's future development.
So what will Expo 2010 Shanghai China deliver to the world? There is no doubt the Chinese people will present to the world a successful, splendid and unforgettable exposition.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be a great event to explore the full potential of urban life in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution. Fifty-five percent of the world population is expected to live in cities by the year 2010. The prospect of future urban life, a subject of global interest, concerns all nations, developed or less developed, and their people. Being the first World Exposition on the theme of city, Exposition 2010 will attract governments and people from across the world, focusing on the theme "Better City, Better Life." For its 184 days, participants will display urban civilisation to the full extent, exchange their experiences of urban development, disseminate advanced notions on cities and explore new approaches to human habitat, lifestyle and working conditions in the new century. They will learn how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will centre on innovation and interaction. Innovation is the soul, while cultural interaction is an important mission of the World Expositions. In the new era, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will contribute to human-centred development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity and win-win cooperation for a better future, thus composing a melody with the key notes of highlighting innovation and interaction in the new century.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will also be a grand international gathering. On the one hand, we shall endeavour to attract about 200 nations and international organisations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from home and abroad, ensuring the widest possible participation in the history of the World Expositions. On the other hand, we will put Expo 2010 Shanghai China in a global perspective and do our best to encourage the participation and gain the understanding and support of various countries and peoples, in order to turn Expo 2010 Shanghai China into a happy reunion of people from all over the world.
In addition, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will offer a wonderful opportunity for cross-culture dialogues. Before the conclusion of the Exposition, a "Shanghai Declaration" will be issued. This declaration, hopefully a milestone in the history of the World Expositions, will epitomise the insights to be offered by the participants and embody people's ideas for future cooperation and development and extensive common aspirations, thereby leaving a rich spiritual legacy of urban development to people throughout the world.
The Chinese Government will go to great lengths to make Expo 2010 Shanghai China a special event that carries on traditions and opens a new vista into the future. Our motto is: "Keeping in mind the next 60 years' development while preparing for the six months' Exposition." We count on the continuing attention, support and participation of all the peace-loving countries.
Expo Emblem
The emblem, depicting the image of three people-you, me, him/her holding hands together, symbolizes the big family of mankind. Inspired by the shape of the Chinese character "世" (meaning the world), the design conveys the organizers' wish to host an Expo which is of global scale and which showcases the diversified urban cultures of the world.
More than 50,000 people signed up to serve as volunteers at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo as the one-year countdown to the event began Friday.
\Seventy-two registration sites were in operation around Shanghai drawing 20,000 applicants, and another 31,000 signed up online, while the Expo organizers' hotline lit up with more than 1,000 calls.
About 150 families in the Gubei area of Shanghai's Changning District make dumplings and participate in other activities to mark the one-year countdown to the 2010 World Expo.(Photo Source: Shanghai Daily)
The main site at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong featured singers and dancers and drew large crowds of people celebrating the start of the countdown. At least 500 would-be volunteers signed up there.
Shanghai Party Chief Yu Zhensheng, speaking at a national countdown ceremony in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, said volunteering was "a key opportunity for young people to develop themselves and a platform to showcase local youth."
In fact, a 17-year-old Shanghai senior high school student was the first applicant.
Lu Ruiyi, who lives in Pudong near the Expo site, said she felt lucky not only because she was the first in line but also because she would be 18 next year, the minimum age for volunteers. She wants to be an information consultant.
About 70,000 volunteers will be recruited to work on the Expo grounds and another 100,000 for the 1,000 or so service centers that will be set up around the city during the event, which is expected to attract 70 million visitors. Volunteers will be required to work for at least 14 consecutive days during next year's event, which runs from May 1 to October 30.
The oldest applicant at the square in front of the Pearl Tower was 68-year-old Sun Xinyi. The retired math teacher has been teaching himself English for more than a year so he can serve as an interpreter at the Expo.
He reads English textbooks and listens to foreign radio for four hours every day. "I have no problem talking in English now," he said.
Among the others was Gu Jiamin, a 51-year-old who suffers from severe myopia. He is classified as visually disabled but arrived at the volunteer drive with a raft of certificates, including some from when he helped at the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai. "I am disabled myself so I know how to take care of the physically challenged," Gu said.
The organizers are recruiting physically challenged volunteers who have language skills or other abilities.
Would-be volunteers can still sign by visiting any of 19 venues around the city as well as at 53 universities. They can also apply online at www.expo2010.cn, www.expovol.com, www.expo2010volunteer.cn, www.wmsh.gov.cn, and www.21campus.cn, or dial 962010, the Expo hotline. English service is available.
The deadline for applications is December 31, and training will be completed in March.
Also yesterday, Suzhou in Jiangsu Province launched six travel routes in and around the famed garden city for Expo visitors who want to explore outside Shanghai. The routes are part of the 44 Expo theme tourist itineraries planned in 16 cities of the Yangtze River Delta region. News&Opinion
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