Expo 2023 is a cancelled specialized exhibition that was scheduled to be held in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[3] The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) awarded Buenos Aires as the host on November 15, 2017. This was to have been the first time that a BIE Expo was held in Argentina, and the first in the country since BIE's creation.[4] In October 2020, Argentina announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing financial crisis, the Expo would not be held as planned in 2023.[5][6]

2023 Buenos Aires
Official Logo
Overview
BIE-classSpecialized exposition
CategoryInternational Recognized Exhibition
NameEXPO2023
MottoScience, Innovation, Art and Creativity for Human Development. Creative Industries in Digital Convergence
Area198 ha[1]
Participant(s)
CountriesMore than 100 (est.)
Location
CountryArgentina
CityBuenos Aires
VenueTecnópolis[1]
Coordinates34°33′31″S 58°30′41″W / 34.55861°S 58.51139°W / -34.55861; -58.51139
Timeline
Bidding15 December 2016[2]
Awarded15 November 2017
Opening15 January 2023
Closure15 April 2023
Specialized expositions
PreviousExpo 2017 in Astana
NextExpo 2027 in Belgrade
Universal expositions
PreviousExpo 2020 in Dubai
NextExpo 2025 in Osaka
Horticultural expositions
PreviousExpo 2022 in Almere
NextExpo 2023 in Doha
Internet
Websiteen.expo2023argentina.com.ar

The exhibition was scheduled to take place between 15 January and 15 April 2023.[3] The predicted number of visitors was 9.4 million, with 79% visiting for a day and 4% international visitors.[7] Over 100 countries were expected to participate.[7]

Theme

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The exhibition was planned to have a theme of "Science, Innovation, Art and Creativity for Human Development. Creative Industries in Digital Convergence".[3] It was to have three sub themes: "How digital convergence reshapes the creative industries and everyday life", "Socio-economic impacts of the creative industries in digital convergence", and "Cultural impacts of the creative industries in digital convergence".[8]

Preparation

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Building works

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The exhibition ran a competition for proposals for construction projects, receiveing 200 submissions from over 2,000 participants. Six projects were declared the winners.[9][10]

Recognition

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The Recognition Dossier for the Argentine expo was submitted to the BIE on 14 January 2019.[11] On 14 October 2020, the government told the BIE that they were unable to host as planned and would need more time.[12]

Other candidates

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There were two other bids to host the specialized exhibition: Łódź submitted a bid with the theme “City Re:Invented” on 15 June 2016; Minneapolis submitted theirs with a theme titled “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well Being for All”.[13] The candidature of Rio de Janeiro with the theme “Metropolitan Cities and Sustainability: Cross Border Potentials.” did not take part in the election process.[14][15]

A secret ballot took place to select the winner at BIE's 162nd General Assembly on 15 November 2017. The first ballot awarded 46 votes to both Buenos Aires and Łódź, with Minneapolis gathering only 25 (and 1 abstention). Minneapolis was eliminated from the second round, which gave 62 votes to Buenos Aires and 56 to Łódź.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Masterplan | Expo 2023 - Argentina - Buenos Aires". Archived from the original on 2017-11-16. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  2. ^ "ExpoBids.com / Bids for Expo 2022 or Expo 2023". Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Argentina elected host country of Specialised Expo 2023". Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. ^ "EXPO - EXPO 2023". Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. ^ "La Argentina se bajó de la organización y no será sede de la Expo Mundial 2023, un megaevento de impacto global - LA NACION". La Nación (in Spanish).
  6. ^ "Argentina renunció a ser sede de la Expo Mundial 2023 - Diario El Sol. Mendoza, Argentina" (in Spanish). 14 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "InPark Magazine – Expo 2023 Argentina Buenos Aires: Exclusive interview with Mr. Hernan Lombardi". June 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  8. ^ "THEME - EXPO 2023". Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Introducing the winning projects for the six architectural ideas contests for the Expo 2023 site. - EXPO 2023". Archived from the original on 2 Mar 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  10. ^ "The "Small Stadium and International Pavilions Building" Contest has a winning project. Take a look at it! - EXPO 2023". Archived from the original on 2 Mar 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Argentina submits Expo 2023 Recognition Dossier to BIE". Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  12. ^ "La Argentina se bajó de la organización y no será sede de la Expo Mundial 2023, un megaevento de impacto global - LA NACION". La Nación (in Spanish).
  13. ^ "Republic of Poland submits bid for Specialised Expo 2022". Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  14. ^ "List of Candidates for Specialised Expo 2022/23". www.bie-paris.org. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  15. ^ "Candidates for Specialised Expo 2022/23". www.bie-paris.org. Retrieved 2023-11-26.