Expo 2020 - Let the Bidding Begin!

Well, it's 4th January 2011, and from today member states of the BIE are able to lodge their application to bid for the 2020 Universal Exposition.

At this moment, we thought we'd do a review of the main leading contenders, compiled from Urso Chappell's new http://www.expobids.com/ website....

THAILAND

There has been a lot of Thai publicity (mainly from the Thai Government) about it's proposals for 2020, centred on several main Thai cities. The publicity looks flash and impressive, but it's difficult to know at this stage which city will be pre-selected for a possible Thai bid.

Thailand's bid comes after the 2006 Royal Flora Ratchapruek - an International Garden Exposition which was held in Chiang Mai in 2006.

View this video on the Thai 2020 bid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RDKFv0QaTQ


USA

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's high profile visit to the Shanghai Expo in August 2010 included a launch for the bid for a Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay area bid for 2020, at the now unused Moffet Field airport.

With water access, close proximity to San Francisco by rail and road, including possibly, by 2020, link by high speed rail to Los Angeles, and a large hi-tech suburbia site, this proposal has got a lot going for it.

But is it the Governator's attempt at a last swan song?

We wish Urso and his compatriots in California good luck!!!

Read this article.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20100912-291845/Schwarzenegger-says-California-to-bid-for-Expo-2020


TURKEY

We had the opportunity to meet with the BIE delegation head to Turkey at Shanghai Expo 2010, and he was talking upbeat about a possible 2020 bid for Izmir, after losing to Milano for the Expo 2015 bid place.

Izmir has a lot of things going for it - Turkey has never hosted an Expo before, and has already put in a lot of work for 2015 which can be used for 2020.

But now it looks like Izmir could have a rival - Ankara. Ankara is now apparently doing a lot of leg work to launch a counter-proposal to the Izmir bid for 2020.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=izmir-is-facing-a-new-rival-for-expo-2020-2010-09-07


AUSTRALIA

Foundation Expo '88 has been pushing for a 2020 Exposition for Australia - to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Captain Cook claiming Australia for the Great British crown (1770-2020) - which would be the most significant Australian anniversary since the 1788-1988 Bicentennial of British settlement to Australia.

Foundation Expo '88 has written to local, state and federal Government representatives about the opportunities to be gained by Australia hosting an Expo in that year - whether it be Universal Exposition or International Garden Exposition - and has heard back from State Tourism representatives saying they will 'look into the matter'.

Meanwhile, a letter forwarded to Foundation Expo '88's local Federal member of Parliament has been forwarded to the Honourable Ms Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister of Australia, for her comment.

Keep tuned!

The original Foundation Expo '88 proposal called for an 'exp0lympiad' - a joint Universal Exposition and Summer Games Olympiad.

Read the Foundation Expo '88 proposal here:

http://www.foundationexpo88.org/captaincook.html


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

A Dubai proposal for 2020 has also seen a lot of press, also in the form of a joint Universal Exposition and Summer Games Olympiad, with support from the highest levels of their Royal Family, however, it is difficult to know if the Dubai bid will proceed with the effects of the Global Financial Crisis there.

Read this article.

http://www.pr.com/press-release/162191


BRAZIL, CANADA, DENMARK, RUSSIA, SOUTH AFRICA

There has been also lesser press with regards to bids from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Russia and South Africa, and we won't go into detail about each one here.

Read the full details at ExpoBids.com -

http://www.expobids.com/2020.htm


LET THE BIDDING BEGIN!






With thanks to Urso Chappell's ExpoBids.com