Expo 2020: The delegation of the International Exhibitions Bureau impressed by Russian hospitality

The Russian city of Yekaterinburg has all the chances of getting the right to host Expo 2020. Such was the verdict of the delegation of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE, agency define the host city of the show) who inspected the city from 26 to 29 March. The members of the delegation were impressed by Russian hospitality and creativity of young citizens.

 "From the beginning, I felt the famous Russian hospitality. The city hosts many small old houses, conserved among skyscrapers, "said the head of the delegation Steen Christensen.

For its part, the BIE Secretary General Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales congratulated the young people of the city. "You have a lot of young people who are very creative and able to further improve what you already have in the city," the official said.It is in 2011 qu'Ekaterinbourg has been proposed as candidate city for the organization of Expo 2020. The Russian project plans to organize Expo 2020 from May 1 to October 31, 2020, with the theme "Global Mind. The Future of Globalization and its impact on the world. "

The opinion of the Delegation of the city IBE is obviously one of the main factors that determine whether Yekaterinburg will host this major event, comparable to the Olympics in terms of importance. Furthermore the candidate city, representatives of the BIE also visited Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It should be noted that one of the key conditions presented by the Candidate Cities IBE is the unconditional support of the project by the authorities.

The Russian government attaches great importance to the possibility of hosting the Expo 2020. Although Russia has always participated in expositions since the first edition held in London in 1851, the country has never been able to host such an event. In 2001, Moscow submitted its bid to host the Expo 2010, but has been overtaken by Shanghai. This time, the Russian city has four competitors: Izmir (Turkey), Ayutthaya (Thailand), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

Yevgeny Kouïvachev, Governor of the Sverdlovsk region that hosts Ekaterinburg, journalists described the main advantages of the Russian bid: "It is the geographical position and climate of the city. We have good communication systems and, in my opinion, although we represent the whole of Russia. "

According M.Kouïvachev, the organization of the Expo will give an impetus to the development of the city and transform the region and Yekaterinburg, a new scientific and industrial center of Russia.

"After the Expo, we may use his legacy to attract in the city companies financial and industrial," added the governor.
Ekaterinburg is located in the center of Eurasia, at the border between Europe and Asia. Founded in 1723 in the central part mountains of the Urals as a fortress, the city is currently an important industrial center and a 'hub' logistics Transsibérien. D'after a local joke very popular, Ekaterinburg is indeed "the Russian capital in case of emergency".
During the visit of the Delegation of IBE, the administration of city has particular presented a plan development of Yekaterinburg including between other the creation of several business districts, whose one should host the Expo 2020.
D'after the chief architect of Yekaterinburg, Mikhaïl Viatkine, the neighborhood will be located "in a clean», on the shore of a local pond. The total area of ​​the zone, located 3 km from the center-city and at 21 km from the airport, rises to 560 hectares.
"The area is furthermore located 6 km from the border between Europe and Asia. We are considering constructing a gondola for that visitors of the Expo can visit the border, "has added the architect.
According the project, the parc de l'Expo should cover a space of nearly 180 hectares and host 103 pavilions, including 5 large pavilions thematic, a Russian pavilion and 20 pavilions big States. Most buildings will be dismantled after the end of the exhibition.
In addition, the organizers considering build near the park a Expo City, to welcome participants of exposure and Commissioners, as well a Expo Village, for media representatives. Then, after the Expo, the two will be transformed into a residential neighborhood with 2.6 million m2 of housing, restaurants and shopping centers.
According the vice-Russian Prime Minister Arkadi Dvorkovitch, who directs the organizing committee of the Expo-2020 of Yekaterinburg, the costs of organizing of the exhibition could rise to 2 billion dollars.
The balance sheet inspections of Candidate Cities be announced by the IBE during a conference of the organization scheduled for 10 and 11 June. The host city will be announced late November.