Countdown to Expo 2020: one year to go

Train lines are being extended. New hotels are opening their doors. And spectacular national pavilions are being unveiled with great fanfare.

All systems are go as Dubai gears up for the grand spectacle of Expo 2020.

After six years of preparation and around $8 billion of investment, we are just one year from showtime: October 20, 2020.

The six-month showcase of innovation is expected to draw 25 million visitors, with 192 countries represented, and if history is a guide the impact could be much longer-lasting.

Rendering of the 1,080-acre Expo 2020 site in Dubai.

‘The works of all nations’

The Expo – sometimes referred to as a World Fair – was conceived as an international exhibition to showcase the best of every nation, with an emphasis on innovation, technology, and architecture.

The first edition was held in London in 1851 with the title: “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations.”

The event was dominated by the treasures of the host nation, and the network of colonies Britain then held power over. But France, Russia, the US, and Chile were also represented, sending jewels, tools, and ornaments for display.

“The most breathtaking exhibit of all” was the purpose-built venue Crystal Palace, according to British Library archives, and the vast pavilion made of iron and glass would establish a pattern of striking architecture.

The grand exhibitions have been held ever since at regular intervals - now settled into a five-year cycle – with an ever-expanding network of host nations and participants.

The Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace, 1851.

Inventions and legacies

Expos have often been the stage for audacious inventions to be revealed to the public, many of which have stood the test of time.

London 1851 saw the debut of vulcanized rubber for the creation of tyres, and an early form of the fax machine.

Philadelphia 1876 saw the introduction of the telephone and one of the earliest typewriters. Paris 1900 gave us the diesel engine and the first movie with sound.

The events have often reshaped their host cities and introduced new landmarks. The Eiffel Tower was unveiled for Paris 1889 – to heavy derision at the time – and Seattle 1962 produced the city’s iconic Space Needle.

“One measure of a successful Expo is whether it has a societal impact in urban planning,” says Jennifer Minner, associate professor in city and regional planning at Cornell University, and a specialist in the history of Expos.

Seattle offers one of the more positive examples, Minner believes, noting that it bequeathed a “successful civic space with institutions like the Pacific Science Center and beautifully preserved architecture,” as well as a legacy of public transport improvements.

The academic adds that other editions have more controversial legacies, such as Milan 2015, marred by construction delays, overspending, and malfunctioning canals.

Eiffel Tower (Paris) —

Built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is still the world's most visited monument (by ticket sales).

Habitat 67 (Montreal) —

Expo 67's star attraction was comprised of 354 identical, prefabricated concrete forms connected like Legos in an elaborate 12-story building with 146 residences.

Space Needle (Seattle) —

Seattle's 605-foot Space Needle was built for the Century 21 Exposition in 1962.

The Biosphere (Montreal) —

This geodesic dome was so popular at Expo 67 that it attracted 5.3 million visitors in the first six months.

China Pavilion (Shanghai) —

The $220 million China Pavilion, designed by septuagenarian He Jingtang, resembles an ancient Chinese crown.

Canada Place (Vancouver, BC) —

Canada Place received a royal launch from Prince Charles when it debuted as the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86.

The Atomium (Brussels) —

This multi-tiered structure, inspired by the dawn of the Atomic Age, rises to a height of 335 feet. It was built to showcase Belgium's engineering might at Expo 58.

Ferris wheel (Chicago) —

When George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. unveiled his 264-foot-tall "pleasure wheel" at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, it was the largest single piece of forged steel ever made.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic (Barcelona) —

This spectacular showcase of color, light and motion was one of the world's first displays of water acrobatics. It remains as alluring today as it was nearly 90 years ago.

Statue of Liberty (New York) —

The Statue of Liberty may not have been purpose-built for the World's Fair, but her scattered body parts were star attractions of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Lady Liberty officially opened to the public in October 1886.

Fair legacy: Greatest buildings from World's Fairs past

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High hopes

Expos have expanded in scope and scale since the grand exhibitions of the 19th century.

Dubai’s ambition for 2020 can be seen in the 1,000-acre site and the bold choice of theme: “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”

Organizers are anticipating lasting gains from the event, projecting an economic dividend of more than $33 billion and the creation of more than 900,000 jobs by 2031.

Dubai plans to reuse 80% of Expo infrastructure, through ambitious schemes such as the conversion of District 2020 into sustainable housing.

Innovations in sustainable living represent a worthy target - and justification - for Expos deep into their third century, says Minner.

“These events…need to be real models for how we live rather than being just about touring technologies” she says.

Many burning questions remain as to what will be revealed at Expo 2020 and what the overall impacts will be.

And those questions will begin to be answered one year from now.