World Exhibitions – World Expos – World Fairs
A World Exhibition (world exposition) is an international exhibition of industrial products, handicrafts often with a focus on technology and art. World Exhibitions are viewed largely as a meeting place, where companies have the opportunity to network and make contacts in the country.
Current World Expo: 2012 Yeosu South Korea 2012
12:of May Theme ”Living Ocean and Coast”
- 104 countries participates
- Estimated number of visitors 10 million
Last World Expo: 2010 China
Theme Better City, Better Life
In May 1 to Oct 31 was the World Expo in Shanghai, China
Shanghai hosted the 41st World Expo.
242 countries and international organizations. World Expo in Shanghai was the world’s third biggest events. Only the Olympics and football World Cup is bigger – and China has spent more than 4 billion dollars on the show, twice as much as the Olympics in Beijing. It has been a success with over 71 million visitors.
World Expo History
The world exhibitions have evolved from the early fairs and markets. The phenomenon of international exhibitions started in the late 1800s. At that time it was popular with the arrangements in European and American cities, like Paris, New York, London, Vienna and Philadelphia. Over the years there have been several world exhibitions or world expos.
World Exhibitions are important
Many technological innovations and technological breakthroughs had their début at the various world exhibitions such as telephone, water flushed toilet, telegraph, hamburger, first motion picture, etc.
There are many buildings and architectural masterpiece that remains after the world exhibitions and fairs. For example the Eiffel Tower in 1887 was the grand entrance to the World’s Fair Exposition Universelle, held two years later.
Who own the concept of World Expos?
World Expos have been held in all continents except Africa. The great world exhibitions are now held every five years. Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) is an international organization that owns the rights to the concept of the World Expos in the same way as the International Olympic Committee takes the concept of the Olympic games. International Exhibitions Bureau was established by a diplomatic international Convention, signed in Paris, in 1928. Today BIE has 156 member states.
Official website from BIE
Facts and landmarks:
Some of the most successful international World Exhibitions ever
1851 London, UK: The World’s first Fair and the event was a great success.
1876 Philladelphia: Thomas Edison at Philadelphia Expo
1889, Paris, France: Eiffel Tower is being built and the phonograph is shown.
Chicago 1893: Exhibition in Jackson Park City. The architectural projects had tremendous influence on American architecture. 27 million visitors.
1901 Buffalo, USA: The X-ray machine was displayed. The Buffalo Pan American exhibition was also the scene of the assassination of U.S. President William McKinley. The president was murdered when he participated in an appearance at a reception.
1939, New York, USA – Futurama: The first major display of the television, as well as the television camera and taperecorder. Read more about Futurama
1958 Brussels: The World’s first Fair after the Second World War.
1967 Montreal, Quebec: Canada’s first World’s Fair, the century-old confederation was celebrated at the same time.