Commission for 20th Anniversary of Seville's Expo 92 formed

http://m.andaluciainformacion.es/?a=215620&i=118&f=0

Expo Trip to Europe April 2012

The 20th Anniversary of the Universal Exposition of Seville is going to be the catalyst for a trip to Europe by Foundation Expo '88 this European spring, with visits to other Expo legacy and future Expo sites also in the cards.

Foundation Expo '88 Executive Director John McGregor worked at Seville's Expo 92 as a Guide in the Corporate VIP Department, and also visited Seville for the 10th Anniversary of the Expo in 2002, to attend the Inaugural Assembly of Expo Cities and Regions there.

Alberto Martin, who runs the Expo 92 Heritage organisation "Associacion Legado Expo", is working with a group of Sevillians for a series of commemorative activities and events for the weekend of the 20th April, the 20th Anniversary of when the Expo was opened in 1992.

Foundation Expo '88 will be there after making a brief courtesy call to the Secretary-General of the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris and presenting a special World Expo '88 legacy item.

After Paris and Seville, McGregor will travel on to Milano, Italy, where he will be meeting with a representative from the Milano Expo 2015 International Participants Section, for an interview for the World's Fair Podcast, which he co-hosts with his ExpoMuseum.com colleague, Urso Chappell of San Francisco.

Then it will be on to London where he will meet with John Greatrex of the Crystal Palace Museum and learn more about the 1851 London Crystal Palace Exhibition.

All in all it looks like to be an exciting time in Europe, covering some of our most important European past - and future - Expositions venues, and we look forward to keeping you informed!

Expo Unlimited: Australian Government Responds to Permanent Online Exposition Launch

Further to the launch by the BIE and the Swedish Government for a permanent online World Exposition space, now at http://expounlimited.se/, Foundation Expo '88 wrote to the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP to advise the Australian Government of this new development.

Foundation Expo '88 has today received below letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, from Commissioner-General of the Australia Pavilion at Yeosu Expo 2012 Korea Mr Kevin Nixon, indicating that Australia is a strong player in the World Expositions system, and shall also consider new initiatives such as the online exposition development.

For further questions regarding "The Expo", please contact the ExpoUnlimited website directly.

 

2020 and 2022 International Expositions for Australia?

Dear all,

Christmas has come early - or it appears!

After some wait, we have received letters from the New South Wales Government and Australian Federal Government with regards to our lobbying for the 2017 Newcastle Expo bid, and for an International Garden Exposition for Australia in 2020, for the 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook claiming Australia for Great Britain.

Both responses seem positive - Foundation Expo '88 will continue to lobby the New South Wales Government and Australian Commonwealth Government to see how they are progressing.

Thanks

I wish to thank you for your support and kind wishes for my job interview for the Australia Pavilion at Yeosu Expo 2012 Korea today.

I have put my best foot forward and now just have to wait for the results.

It will be a long wait though - shall not know until February!

Let's hope that the decision is a favourable one and that I'll be jetting off to Korea in May.

Korean Language posting # 2 in preparation for interviews for Expo 2012

Hi,

This is my second Korean language posting in preparation for my interviews for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.

In this posting I talk about my overseas study and work experiences, including that of at World Expositions.

I hope you enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOSoFocsjJQ

Australia Pavilion Interview on Monday!

Hi guys,

Just received notification of my interview with the Australia Pavilion for Yeosu Expo 2012 Korea on Monday, and have been inspired by ever4one's YouTube channel to do a self-introduction video in Korean for feedback and to boost my self-confidence.

Here's the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVW59SHZcew

I'm not going to include a translation - that will come if I'm successful in getting the position!

Best regards,

JOHN MCGREGOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOUNDATION EXPO '88

BIE Paris Third Gentlemen's Meeting Held

The BIE in Paris has held the Third Gentlemen's Meeting on candidature for the 2017 and 2020 Expositions, with delegates from these bids presenting their progress reports.

Whilst bid lodgement for 2020 has now closed, with 5 bidding cities, there are still a few weeks before bids for 2017 close. Newcastle, Australia, however, has yet to put in a bid for 2017.

To read the BIE Press Release, read this link:

http://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/articles/general-news/439-expo-candidates-prepare-for-campaign.html

We hope that Newcastle can put forward its bid for 2017 soon, and that we can see another International Exposition in Australia.

Australia Pavilion Korea Yeosu Expo 2012 Recruitment Launched!

Please find following official Press Release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with regards to the launch of recruitment for staff at the Australia Pavilion, Korea Yeosu Expo 2012.

http://dfat.gov.au/yeosu/index.html

Please note that Australian applications for positions close on 25 November.

Good luck with your application and let's hope we have a brilliant team for the Pavilion when it opens next year!

Further questions regarding the Australian Pavilion recruitment and staffing should be directed to the Australia Pavilion website.

Turkey, Thailand, Russia and Brazil compete for Expo 2020

With the 2 November bid closure date just a few days away, Sao Paulo Brazil and Ekanteriberg Russia have put in their last minute bids to the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris.

This makes a total of 4 official bids for the 6-month 2020 Universal Exposition, with as of yet no bid from much expected contender Silicon Valley USA, which was launched by then Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Shanghai World Expo last year.

Also missing is a bid from Australia, where it was hoped that a 2020 World Exposition could be used as the centrepiece for a 1770-2020 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook claiming Australia for Great Britain.

It is hoped that Australia will be able to host an International Garden Exposition for the 2020 year instead.

With thanks to French World Expositions consultant Laurent Le Mog, our man in Paris, for the news with regards to these bids.

Yeosu Expo 2012 Korea 198 Days to Go!

Australia is soon to commence recruitment for its Pavilion at Expo 2012, with an announcement to be made in the next week.

This is an exciting phase in the development of Australia's representation at Yeosu, which according to some sources, plans to be 'the best Pavilion' at Expo 2012.

Also in related news, Think! OTS Media, the creative agency behind Australia's Pavilion at Aichi 2005, and also Shanghai 2010, has been appointed as creative agency for Australia at Yeosu 2012.

Here's a note from the Think! OTS Media blog, with regards to their appointment:

http://www.thinkots.com/news/2012-expo/

And here's a Press Release from the Expo 2012 website with regards to a visit by Australia Pavilion officials in August to the Yeosu Organising Committee. In the Press Release, Mr Kevin Nixon is named as the Pavilion Director:

http://eng.expo2012.kr/is/ps/unitybbs/bbs/selectBbsDetail.html?ispsBbsId=BBS074&ispsNttId=0000013683

In another note, we finish with this photograph from the Foundation Expo '88 vault, of Executive Director John McGregor at his desk at the Press Center of the Taejon International Exposition of Korea of 1993, Korea's first and most previous World Exposition. The Executive Director was employed as an English-language Press Writer by the Organising Committee of the Fair, and covered daily events such as National Days, visiting dignitaries, and general Exposition events. This was the Executive Director's third World Exposition engagement, after working for Japan at Brisbane's World Expo '88, and Spain, for the Universal Exposition of Seville 1992.

Foundation Expo '88 hopes to - one way or another - have another go at working for Korea - or Australia - at this next Expo in Korea! Keep tuned to this space for more information.

Meeting with Mayor of Yeosu City Korea - and Correspondence to the BIE

Dear Supporters,

Just a quick message to let you know that I have today met again the Mayor of Yeosu City, Mr Kim Chung-seog, and attended a paper given by him to the Asia Pacific Cities Summit, this year hosted by Brisbane City Australia, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Kim was upbeat at my meeting him and seemed to recall our first meeting at the 4th Assembly of the Association of Expo Cities and Regions at Shanghai World Expo 2010 last year.

He gave an interesting presentation/progress report on Yeosu Expo 2012 for Summit delegates, and also showed a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation, which included a 7-minute video presentation.

The floor was opened for questions at the end of the paper, where Australia's confirmed presence at Yeosu Expo 2012 was duly noted by officials from Trade Queensland, the Trade development arm of the Queensland Government. No doubt, Queensland is looking forward to strong representation within the Australia Pavilion at Yeosu and will fund accordingly.

As a former staff member of Korea's last Exposition - Taejon Expo 93, it was a pleasure to see this progress report on Korea's next Exposition. I wish them every success.

I also forwarded an email to the Secretary-General of the BIE, Sr Vicente Loscertales, thanking the BIE for the opportunity to meet Mr Kim at A.V.E. at Shanghai, and how I look forward to further furthering these important inter-city Expo links on future occasions, including A.V.E. at Yeosu next year.

I attach here said correspondence to the BIE, which includes a photo, taken today, with the Mayor.

-----------------------------------

7 July 2011

H.E. Sr Vicente Loscertales
Secretary-General
Bureau of International Expositions
Paris France

ATTN: Ms Martine Leyrat, Communications



Dear Secretary-General

MEETING WITH MAYOR OF YEOSU CITY, KOREA

 Greetings from the Antipodes!


Thank you for your office's kind ongoing support.


This email is to inform you that I have been strengthening our inter-city World Expositions links, furthered through my representation as an Observer for Brisbane City at last year's Assembly of the Association of Expo Cities and Regions at Shanghai World Expo 2010, kindly arranged through your office, with a brief meeting today with Mayor of Yeosu City, Mr Kim Chung-seog, at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre earlier today.


Mr Kim was a speaker at the Summit, and I was able to attend for his paper, which was a presentation/progress report on Yeosu Expo 2012, and included a brief speech by Mr Kim, as well as a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation.


It was a pleasure to meet Mr Kim and his delegation again after our inaugural meeting at A.V.E. in Shanghai and further the important links between World Expo '88 and Expo 2012.


As you may also know, it is heartening that Australia has decided to be represented at Yeosu, just recently, which was further to several emails lobbying my local Federal member of Parliament, marked in attention to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mr Kevin Rudd MP, our former Prime Minister. As you may know, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade looks after Australia's representation at World Expositions.


Foundation Expo '88 wishes to take this opportunity to thank the BIE again for facilitating these important Expo City links through A.V.E. and looks forward to either accompanying the Brisbane City delegation or, once again representing Brisbane City as an Observer at A.V.E. at Yeosu.


Brisbane is yet to ratify it's membership of A.V.E., but please be assured that Foundation Expo '88 shall continue to do it's utmost to see Brisbane City's official ratification of it's membership, and until that time shall seek to represent Brisbane as an Observer at future A.V.E. Assemblies, in order to further this cause, through which I shall no doubt be seeking once again your office's kind support.


With thanks, and with warmest regards to your Bureau staff,




John R McGregor
Executive Director Foundation Expo '88


http://www.foundationexpo88.org


Brisbane, Queensland, Australia


Co-host The World's Fair Podcast
http://www.worldsfairpodcast.com


http://www.facebook.com/foundationexpo88/
http://twitter.com/fexpo88/

http://worldexpositionssnapshot.blogspot.com


Tel +61417 434105


"It is a great and glorious end to bless the sons of man,
And meet for peace and doing good, in kindness, while we can;
It is a greater, and more blest, the human heart to raise
Up to the God who giveth all, with gratitude and praise."

Excerpt from prose by Martin Tupper Farquhar, on the 1851 London Crystal Palace Exhibition

AUSTRALIA TO PARTICIPATE AT WORLD EXPO 2012 YEOSU KOREA

I have just received news from the Federal Member for Moreton's office that the Australian Government has confirmed it's participation at the next World's Fair in Yeosu, Korea, in 2012, styled "Yeosu World Expo 2012".


With the theme “The Living Ocean and the Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities", Australia is poised to make a unique contribution.


Please find following my email to the Honourable Mr Perrett MP's office, congratulating the Australian Government on this decision.


Foundation Expo '88, with it's previous experience as a member of the Organising Committee of Korea's last Expo, Taejon Expo '93, is looking forward to lending it's unique skills to the Australian representation at Yeosu.

Here is the Press Release from the Honourable Mr Kevin Rudd MP's office, Minister for Foreign Affairs.


http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110620a.html



---------------------------------------- 






21 June 2011

The Honourable Mr Graham Perrett MP

Federal Member for Moreton

Commonwealth Government of Australia

Sunnybank Qld 4109

Dear Graham:

AUSTRALIA TO PARTICIPATE AT WORLD EXPO 2012 YEOSU KOREA

Thank you for your office's kind ongoing support and representation.

I have just received a phone call from one of your staff, Peter, informing me of Minister Rudd's Press Release with regards to the Australian Government's decision to participate at Yeosu World Expo 2012 Korea next year.

This is indeed a great outcome for Australia, and a great outcome for Australia-Korea relations, as well as for the greater international World's Fair community, of which of course, Australia is a proud member.

I am sure that the Organisers of Yeosu Expo 2012, whom I had the chance to meet last year at the 4th Assembly of the Association of Expo Cities and Regions at Shanghai World Expo 2010, will be ecstatic at this news.

And, as a former staff member of the Organising Committee for Korea's last World Expo - Taejon Expo '93, and as Executive Director of Foundation Expo '88, I look forward to any way in which I can lend my unique skills to the Australian representation at Yeosu. Please extend to Minister Rudd my sincere thanks for his considered responses to my emails advocating for an Australian presence at Yeosu, which is now of course, confirmed.

Yours sincerely

John McGregor

--

John R McGregor
Executive Director Foundation Expo '88

http://www.foundationexpo88.org

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Co-host The World's Fair Podcast
http://www.worldsfairpodcast.com

http://www.facebook.com/foundationexpo88/
http://twitter.com/fexpo88/

http://worldexpositionssnapshot.blogspot.com

Tel +61417 434105

"It is a great and glorious end to bless the sons of man,
And meet for peace and doing good, in kindness, while we can;
It is a greater, and more blest, the human heart to raise
Up to the God who giveth all, with gratitude and praise."

Excerpt from prose by Martin Tupper Farquhar, on the 1851 London Crystal Palace Exhibition

Google's 160th Anniversary of the first World's Fair "doodle"

Google celebrates today the 160th Anniversary of the first World's Fair - at the Crystal Palace, London, 1851.

When you go to http://www.google.com.au to see the doodle, you'll notice a handglass that appears above the logo which reveals animated features.

Happy 23rd Birthday World Expo '88

Today is the 23rd Anniversary of the official opening of Brisbane's World Expo '88, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Happy Birthday Expo '88!

Rumours on First Bid for 2020

My contact at ExpoMuseum.com tells us that Izmir Turkey may be the first to lodge an official bid for Expo 2020 on 1 May, which would give other bid nations, including Australia, six months to respond.

Watch this space for more news!

Newcastle, NSW, eyes Expo 2017

This news was picked up by my San Francisco colleague Urso Chappell of ExpoMuseum.com, and co-host for the World's Fair Podcast - maybe we could do an interview with them for our next show?

Urso has sent me these links, which show that the new Liberal Government in New South Wales is keen for Newcastle to host Expo 2017, which is backed by local member of Parliament the Hon Tim Owen MP, and the new Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Mr Barry O'Farrell MP.

Here are the links, which point to a few weeks ago, just before the Liberal Government's win in NSW.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/keneally-still-cradles-hopes-in-heartland/story-fn59niix-1226026365161

http://www.nsw.liberal.org.au/news/leader-of-the-opposition/newcastle-to-bid-for-expo-showcasing-newcastle-and-the-hunter-to-the-world.html

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/barry-ofarrells-message-to-the-hunter/2113779.aspx

As stated in these articles, the new NSW Government is willing to put in $1 million seed funding to do a feasibility study to bring the Expo to Australia in 2017.

Foundation Expo '88 shall be following this up with the NSW Premier's office in the next few weeks!

In the meantime, follow the potential bid's Twitter feed at @ExpoNewcastle!

Silicon Valley Expo 2020 proposal launches website

In the midst of receiving correspondence from Australian Foreign Minister Rudd regarding an Australian Exposition for 2020, it is interesting to note the Californian Government proposal for Silicon Valley Expo 2020 has just launched it's website and Facebook page.

The slick website, which is well thought out, and includes official documents such as Governor Schwarzenegger's letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urging her to consider the USA's membership of the Bureau of International Expositions, as well as a mock supporters letter in .doc format to same for interested citizens to fill in the blanks and send themselves.

The website address is:

http://www.expo2020siliconvalley.com

The Facebook page is at:

http://www.facebook.com/WorldExpo2020/

Read - and enjoy!

Australian Government response re: An Australian Exposition for 2020

Dear Readers:

You may know of my correspondence to my local Federal member of Parliament, the Honourable Mr Graham Perrett MP, late last year with regards to the proposal that Australia host a Universal Exposition or International Garden Exposition for the 1770-2020 250th Anniversary of Captain Cook claiming Australia for the Great British Crown.

Some time later, I received a response from Mr Perrett informing me that this correspondence had been forwarded to the Prime Minister's Department for her comment.

Today I have received a letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mr Kevin Rudd MP, (our former Prime Minister), advising that the letter has been forwarded to his Department as Foreign Affairs looks after Australia at World Expositions.

I include a copy of the letter received from Mr Rudd here:

Double-click to enlarge.

I think this response is an important milestone in getting a worthy international celebration for Australia for 2020 - and I trust that Minister Rudd, given his stature, will give this matter his full and considered thought.

With thanks to Mr Perrett for his representation.

DFAT Final Report on Australia at Shanghai World Expo 2010

I have just come across this document at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website on the Australian representation at Shanghai World Expo 2010.

It serves as a fine Government summary of the Australian representation at Shanghai - I trust you find it of interest.

Here is the link to the document:

http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/shanghai-expo-final-report.doc