Dubai EXPO 2020 Has Officially Commenced with Stunning Opening Ceremony
After a year’s delay, Expo 2020 has commenced in Dubai with a glorious opening ceremony welcoming the world to the United Arab Emirates.
The spectacular opening show of the world’s fair featured a range of international performances including award-winning singer Ellie Goulding, Golden Globe winner Andra Day, concert pianist Lang Lang, and world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli before culminating in a final fireworks show – the third for that evening!
Live streamed across 430 locations including the iconic screens of Times Square in New York, the dome of Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza was illuminated by 152 projectors in a spectacular visual attraction depicting a magical garden with a collection of dancers dressed as blossoming flowers.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Expo 2020 Dubai Commissioner General and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, said that the Expo represented the connectivity and unity of the United Arab Emirates.
“Today we say to the whole world, welcome to the United Arab Emirates and welcome to Expo 2020 Dubai, which will provide a significant platform for all people to connect, discuss and work together,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
The show opened with the flags of all 192 nations taking part and featured an international cast of more than 900 performers. A visually stunning beginning to the six months of Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Tickets restricted to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared on Wednesday that tickets for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will only be sold to spectators from mainland China.
To the disappointment of international fans, no international spectators will be permitted to enter the Winter Olympics from February 4 to February 20, 2022. Despite the ticket restrictions, the IOC has welcomed the decision for spectators after the empty stadiums of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
The IOC also announced that vaccinations are not mandatory for the athletes of the Beijing Winter Olympics, although unvaccinated athletes will be required to quarantine for 21 days.
More details on the organiser’s plans will be issued in October and December.
Image: Tokyo 2021 Olympics
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Announces Official Overlay Supporter GL events UK
It has been announced that GL events UK will be the official overlay supporter of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. GL events will provide a range of infrastructure services including approximately 16,500m2 of temporary structures, 44,000 grandstand seats and 19km of fencing.
Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said that GL events will be a fantastic addition to the event.
“The team bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from their partnerships with previous Commonwealth Games and other multi-sport events and I’m confident they will help us deliver a safe and successful Games,” Reid said.
Scott Jameson, Managing Director of GL events UK, is excited by the opportunity to deliver overlay services and contribute to the event.
“As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of temporary event infrastructure, GL events has an enviable track record delivering at previous Commonwealth Games events, Olympic Games, and other major multi-sport championships,” Jameson said. “We are delighted that Birmingham 2022 has demonstrated its confidence in our business to deliver on the global stage.”
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will host 4500 athletes from 72 nations and territories from July 28 until August 8, 2022. The ticket ballot is currently open with more than one million tickets available.
Image: Perry, our Mascot, in Coventry stadium with GL Events team members: Managing Director Scott Jameson, Project Director Tom Alldread, Cluster Manager Helen Lea, Commercial Director David Tunnicliffe, and Cluster Manager James Gibson.
Feature Image: Unsplash
