Milan to host EXPO 2015, Turkey's Izmir loses
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish TV channels reported Italy's Milan is going to host EXPO 2015 after revoting in Paris. 86 members of the Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) supported Milan, while Izmir got 65 votes. (UPDATED)
Previously it was reported that Izmir won the voting.
It is anticipated to bring in a profit of $15 billion to the host city. Izmir had been preparing for the fair for more than a year and has spent a total of 15 million euros on publicity.
Over the last six months Milan and Izmir have both been lobbying intensively to persuade the BIE’s 151 members to vote in their favor. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, State Minister Mehmet Aydin and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul as well the main opposition party CHP's leader Deniz Baykal attended the meeting in Paris.
Turkey joined the BIE in 2004, and it was elected to the board of directors within one year. Izmir’s proposed theme for EXPO 2015 is “New Routes to a Better World / Health for All,” while Milan’s theme was “Feeding the Planet / Energy for Life.”