EXPO 2015: Milan or Izmir
The competition for EXPO 2015 is heating up. It’s down to two choices: Milan (Italy) or Izmir (Turkey). As you may understand, I’m not exactly objective: I live several months each year in Izmir, and consider it to be one of the most beautiful and hospital cities on earth.
Bureau of International Exhibitions Plenary Assembly will gather in Paris on March 31, that’s next week Monday. The ladies and gents of this assembly will then decide what city will have the honor to organize EXPO 2015.
At this moment, Izmir is the likely and expected winner. According to those who know, it will beat Milan by 10 votes or so.
EXPO 2015 isn’t considered, it seems, to be very important by citizens of Milan, let alone by Italians in general. When I was in Turkey I watched a program in which Turkish reporters traveled to Milan to ask the people there what they thought about the EXPO: most didn’t even know what the reporters were talking about.
But in Izmir the situation is entirely different. Every single Izmirian knows what the EXPO is and is rooting for Izmir to win, so this great city - between three and four million inhabitants, lying at the coast (Mediterranean) - can show the world that it’s a modern country, with a hospital, friendly and warm people.
Not only Izmirians know about the EXPO though, Turks in general know that Izmir may very well organize the EXPO in the year 2015 are all hoping that Izmir will indeed be allowed to do so. Turks want to show the world that their country is modern, and that it has made a lot of progress. They also want to do something about their image (in many tests, foreigners have shown that they think little of Turkey and Turks). EXPO 2015 is a great opportunity for them to do so.
Aside from Izmir being a great city, heaven on earth as I’ve called in the past, the eagerness of Turks and Izmirians specifically to organize this thing is why I believe that Izmir should win. Let the people who are most passionate about EXPO 2015 organize it. They’ll do everything in their power to make it an event no one can forget, and then some.
There has been a lot of hype in Izmir regarding Expo 2015. Milan has already hosted ‘the Expo’ previously, and they constantly have fairs and autoshows and expos anyway. The Italians have their manana attitude and don’t care either way. Expo 2015, si, would be nice to have. The Turks on the other hand, realize events such as these are very rarely hosted in their country, so they are taking it incredibly seriously. This was the deal with Eurovision, or Universiade (which Izmir hosted in 2005), where the Turks hired the best set of professionals. Its all part of a marketing scheme to make Turkey a brand, or at least to shake its image of camels-turbans-immigrants-deserts and cheap five star hotels. I hope Izmir gets it, and provides a hub for investment and development in the Eastern Aegean and the Balkans. Old Smyrna was the ‘Pearl of the Aegean,’ after all.
EXPO 2015 organization in Izmir will add many more firsts to the 150 year history of BIE (Bureau International des Expositions).1. Turkey is a secular country; which sets an example to the world through her majority Muslim population. It is the first time that such a city has been a candidate for EXPO. As three major religions have coexisted in Izmir in peace for centuries the city’s candidacy will offer a message of peace and tolerance allaying concerns brought about by the clash of cultures and religions.2. The negotiation process of Turkey’s application to join the EU has focussed the attention of the world upon us. 2015 is the target date for the negotiation process to be completed and, hopefully, Turkey will become a full member at that time.3. Our country’s geographical and climatic characteristics offer great advantages. Izmir, with an average of 300 sunny days a year, promises only spring and summer during the 180 days of EXPO.4. Izmir is within three to three and a half hours flying time from the major cities of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus. Within the period of the fair over one billion people could travel to our city. If Izmir wins the bid, it will be the first city ever in the East Mediterranean to host an EXPO.5. In 2010 Shanghai is expected to host some 70 million visitors from 150 countries. Its theme “A Better City, A Better World” has a parallel to Izmir’s theme. Izmir’s subject is serving as the continuation of this premise and will therefore be a continuation of Shanghai’s focus. Milan plans to hold EXPO on an area limited to 170 hectares; Izmir has far more space available which may be advantageous to our bid.
If you really want it, you’ll have it.
We want Expo 2015,
The last sentence ; "Congratularsi Izmir"
sadly we lost Michael. Not the most passionate wins always, I guess…
Anyway as an Izmirian, I personally thank you for this beautiful words dedicated to Izmir…
Hope to meet you somewhere in Izmir…
Erdem: very sad indeed. Likewise!