Saudi Arabia Chosen as Host of 2030 World Expo : Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, has won the bid to host the Expo 2030 world’s fair. The decision comes after Qatar successfully hosted the World Cup last year, showcasing the Gulf region’s growing prominence in the international event hosting landscape. Busan, South Korea, and Rome, Italy, were also contenders for hosting the Expo, an event that takes place every five years and attracts millions of visitors and significant investment.

Riyadh secured a total of 119 votes, while Busan received 29 votes and Rome received 17 votes. The results were announced by the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which consists of 182 members. For victory in the first round, Saudi Arabia needed to gain two-thirds of the votes.

Italian representatives expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcome, with Giampiero Massolo, head of the Italian Expo bid, stating that Saudi Arabia’s victory was unexpected in such proportions. He claimed that the result was no longer about merit but rather about transactions. Massolo further suggested that this win could pave the way for the country to host future sporting events such as the Olympics, adding to its plans to host the 2034 World Cup.

As the sole candidate, Saudi Arabia is already scheduled to host the 2034 World Cup and is contemplating an Olympic bid as well. Riyadh utilized the influence of football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr club in the city, by featuring him in a video shown to BIE members before the vote. The proposed dates for the Expo are from October 2030 to March 2031.

This victory serves as a significant achievement for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 program. Vision 2030 aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil and diversify its economy. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud acknowledged the proactive efforts of the country’s ministers in engaging with counterparts worldwide to understand their expectations and gain their trust.

Critics, however, argue that the crown prince’s motivations for hosting the Expo go beyond showcasing Saudi Arabia’s progress and involve an attempt to improve the country’s image following the international backlash over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Analysis:

The given news article provides a factual account of Riyadh’s victory in hosting the Expo 2030 world’s fair. The information presented includes the number of votes received by each candidate and quotes from Italian representatives expressing criticism and suspicion about the outcome. The article mentions Saudi Arabia’s upcoming hosting of the 2034 World Cup and its potential Olympic bid. It also highlights the involvement of football star Cristiano Ronaldo in promoting Riyadh’s bid.

The sources of information in this article are not explicitly mentioned. The statements made by Giampiero Massolo, head of the Italian Expo bid, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud are presented without indicating the specific context in which these quotes were provided. Therefore, the credibility of the sources cannot be fully evaluated.

The article appears to be objective in presenting the facts of the Expo 2030 hosting decision. However, the inclusion of the critics’ viewpoint suggests a potential bias in how the information is presented. The reference to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and its potential impact on Saudi Arabia’s image may contribute to a nuanced understanding of the topic. While the article acknowledges the crown prince’s aspirations for Vision 2030, it does not provide a comprehensive analysis of the program’s objectives or the broader political context in which it operates.

In terms of reliability, the article lacks information about the selection process, the reasoning behind the votes cast by BIE members, and the specific criteria considered during the evaluation. This absence of crucial details limits the reader’s ability to fully assess the legitimacy and transparency of the decision-making process.

Considering the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news, it is crucial to critically evaluate the information presented in this article. As the article includes unsubstantiated quotes from unnamed sources, it may contribute to a potential misrepresentation or incomplete understanding of the situation. Furthermore, the article’s limited scope and lack of context may result in a perception of Saudi Arabia’s hosting decision that is oversimplified or skewed, depending on the reader’s pre-existing beliefs and biases.

Source: Aljazeera news: Saudi Arabia selected to host World Expo in 2030