Paris, November 28, 2023 – Today, starting at 2:00 PM, is being held the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) where it will be decided the country that will host the Universal Exposition. The 182 representatives of the participating countries in the BIE will cast their votes among the three candidates: Rome, Riyadh, or Busan.

The winning candidate will be the one who obtains a two-thirds majority; if this is not achieved, a second vote will be held between the two candidates with the most votes, excluding the country with the least support. The vote will be secret, following the principle of confidentiality established in the BIE’s statute, and will take place without interruptions, in a minute that will shape the future of this global competition. To Italy has been assigned the number 2 for the vote, number 1 for Busan, and 3 for Riyadh.

Present in Paris to support the candidacy will be: the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, the Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, the President of the Roma Expo 2030 Committee Giampiero Massolo, the Director General Giuseppe Scognamiglio, and the Vice President – Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Crafts, Industry, and Internationalization of the Lazio Region Roberta Angelilli. The General Assembly on November 28 represents the most significant step in the candidacy process. Before the decisive vote, there will be a final presentation of the three candidate cities, during which each, through its stakeholders, will make its final appeal for votes.

The Rome Expo 2030 Committee will portray the capital masterplan through 5 chapters: Rome is (r) Home, Rome embodies universal values, Come to Rome, Rome, our commitment to Expo, Rome is passion.

Speaking will be illustrious figures such as: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will address the audience via video with an appeal to vote for the capital, Trudie Styler, actress, producer, human rights activist, and Unicef ambassador, who will share her life experience in Italy, a country she chose to live in due to its hospitality culture. This will be followed by a video message from tennis champion Jannik Sinner and an intervention by actress Sabrina Impacciatore, known worldwide for the TV series “The White Lotus,” who will recite Erri de Luca’s poem “Considero Valore.” Finally, for the final endorsement and the call to the voting delegates, Bebe Vio Grandis, a world-famous Paralympic champion, will deliver her message.