Busan’s Bid to host 2030 World Expo Falls Short as Riyadh elected winner
Seoul and Rome invested significant efforts in their bids. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a final pitch for Busan's bid in the French capital last week, while Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni advocated for Rome's cause in Paris and beyond. But to no avail.
NEW DELHI/SEOUL: In the Tuesday secret voting held by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris, Busan faced disappointment in its pursuit to host the 2030 World Expo. Despite years of lobbying supported by Korean politicians, businesses, and celebrities, Riyadh emerged victorious, securing 119 votes outright in the first round of voting. Busan, while gaining the backing of 29 BIE members, was unable to surpass Riyadh’s decisive lead, with Rome securing 17 votes.
The BIE’s regulations dictate that a candidate must secure two-thirds of the votes cast to win the election when more than two candidates are in contention. In the absence of an outright winner in the first round, the top two candidates proceed to a second round, requiring a simple majority for election.
In the aftermath of the voting results, Prime Minister Han acknowledged that the government’s efforts fell short of public expectations. He expressed gratitude to the supporters of Busan’s bid, recognizing the significance of their encouragement despite the ultimate outcome.
World Expos, renowned for showcasing technological innovations, cultural richness, and architectural marvels, occur every five years for a duration of six months. The upcoming event is scheduled to be hosted by Osaka in 2025.
Busan’s fervent presentation, featuring an opening address by Mayor Park Heong-joon, speeches from Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and Honorary Ambassador for the World Expo 2030 Rah Seung-yun, showcased a determined effort. The final pitch included a compelling video with endorsements from Korean pop music celebrities and actors, such as members of the boy band BTS, singer PSY, and actor Lee Jung-jae, all urging BIE members to cast their votes in favor of Busan.
Notably, Seoul and Rome both invested significant efforts in their bids. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a final pitch for Busan’s bid in the French capital last week, while Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni advocated for Rome’s cause in Paris and beyond.
To add star power to their bids, South Korea enlisted former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and Italy featured actor Sabrina Impacciatore and tennis star Jannik Sinner in video endorsements. For Saudi Arabia, football star Cristiano Ronaldo, now playing for Riyadh side Al Nassr, delivered a video message endorsing Riyadh as an “amazing city ready to welcome all.”
In his concluding presentation, Prince Faisal reaffirmed an “unwavering commitment to collaborate with all nations” in delivering an expo created by the world for the world. He emphasized that as Saudi Arabia diligently works to grow and transform its economy, the progress of the kingdom, regional development, and the global economy will advance hand in hand.
The most recent World Expo occurred in 2020 in Dubai, and the upcoming World Expo is slated for 2025 in Osaka, Japan, focusing on the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Notably, other bids for the 2030 Expo came from Moscow, Russia, and Odesa, Ukraine. Russia withdrew its bid in May 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, while Odesa did not make the final shortlist of three announced in June.
According to Alarabiya News, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, expressed gratitude for the nations that supported Riyadh’s successful bid to host Expo 2030. He emphasized that this victory underscores global confidence in the Kingdom.
Prince Faisal highlighted the personal involvement of Saudi Crown Prince MBS in leading the efforts to secure Riyadh as the host city for the 2030 World Expo. The significance of hosting the Expo is paramount for Saudi Arabia, aligning with its goal to showcase the Kingdom worldwide through premier events.
Saudi Arabia is already positioned to host the 2034 football World Cup, having emerged as the sole bidder for the event. The country is also actively welcoming various motor-racing, golf, and combat sports events.
The choice of 2030 holds symbolic importance for Saudi Arabia, coinciding with a key milestone in Crown Prince MBS’s Vision 2030 program, aiming to diversify the country economically and culturally.
The Riyadh Expo is scheduled to unfold from October 2030 to March 2031 under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” as outlined in the Saudi bid.
