MILAN – “The challenge we set ourselves has been won. Now we are ready to leap forward.” With these words the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella announced the closure of Expo Milano 2015.
“A new test is beginning for us, and this is how deciding how the Site will be used. I am sure that we will make a wise choice that also involves our young people. No-one will be allowed to come short of everything that Expo has created.
”The Universal Exposition of Milan has officially closed its gates. Together with President Mattarella, Mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia, President of the Lombardy Region, Roberto Maroni, Commissioner of the Italian Pavilion, Diana Bracco, Secretary of the Bureau International des Expositions, Vicente Gonzales Loscertales, Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, and the Sole Commissioner for the Government for Expo Milano 2015, Giuseppe Sala also participated in the ceremony.
Sala announced that “in the six-month event in Milan, 21.5 million people visited the Universal Exposition.
Expo Milano 2015, the satisfactions and the commitments
The authorities spoke one after another on the stage of the San Carlo Open Air Theater emphasising the value of this Universal Exposition and the legacy that it will leave, not only to the forthcoming events, but in the conscience of all citizens.
“This Exposition” stated Pisapia “has brought high levels of satisfaction to our Country by proposing itself as a departure point from which we must again begin to make our world more sustainable.”
“Today this great euphoria, satisfaction and pride” declared Maroni “shows that Italy has won its challenge.
The commitment that we must maintain from tomorrow onwards is that of continuing to make a meaningful contribution to the international community, but to do so each one of us must express the desire to defeat the hunger that is still affecting the populations of the Planet.”
Taking to the field to maintain the projects for young people and the role of women
Diana Bracco began her speech by stating “my task has been that of representing the system of Italy by involving all the players. The only way we can win is if we establish a system.
Today we have achieved some important objectives and the essential one is to share a theme that is important for the future of the Planet on a global level.” Loscertales elaborated on Bracco’s words by stating “that the success of this event has been due to its strong focus on debate and on international trade relations.”
The message of Expo Milano 2015 runs on the legs of millions of visitors
“We can now finally say mission accomplished” began Minister Martina opening his speech during the closing ceremony of Expo Milano 2015.
“We must be proud of our Country, because we have proved to the world that we are capable of meeting our objectives thanks to the cooperation of our populations, because our past remains strong if we are capable of opening up towards the future. The message of Expo Milano 2015 will walk all over the world on the legs of the millions of citizens who have visited this Exposition.”
Giuseppe Sala stated that “5 million visitors passed through the turnstiles at Expo in the month of October alone. Today we can say that in the six months of the event in Milan, 21.5 million people visited the Universal Exposition.
This can only confirm that together we have done an excellent job, leaving a deep mark on the consciences of our citizens.”
Food: a universal language that unites tradition and innovation
The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, sung by the choirs of S.Ilario of Rovereto, Brianza of Missaglia, Rifugio Città of Seregno, the Incanto Women’s Choir of Corsico, the Coro dei Piccoli Cantori from Milan and the children of the Scuola Rinnovata was a moving moment for the audience.
Together with the official anthem of the BIE it preceded the closing speech delivered by President Mattarella. “With a touch of sadness for the conclusion of this important event, I can say that this will not be a farewell but a handover.
The Charter of Milan has an important mission: to take the message of this Exposition, addressed to life and human rights, all over the world. With food we can promote the traditions of every single Country or combine history with the spirit of innovation and development for the future.”
The words of the President concluded the official closing ceremony of the Universal Exposition of Milan and an exciting show of fireworks and pyrotechnics excited and amazed an audience of spectators along the perimeter of the Open Air Theater
The power of collaboration
For the countries that chose not to have their own pavilions, Expo Milan 2015 created an innovative mode of participation: the Cluster.
These exhibition spaces brought together countries that all produce, or have a relationship with, a specific food.
The nine Clusters were spread over a total area of 36,650 square meters. They were: Rice, Cocoa and Chocolate, Coffee, Fruits and Fegumes, Spices, Cereals and Tubers, Bio-Mediterraneum Islands, Sea and Food, Arid Zones.
The Coffee Cluster
Curated by illycaffè, EXPO 2015’s official Coffee Partner, was visited by over 13 million visitors.
Created in collaboration with the International Coffee Organization (ICO), this Cluster narrated the past, present, and future of coffee, focusing on three areas: the product and its journey from bean to cup, the creativity, art and culture that have developed around the coffee-drinking ritual, the stories and traditions of the countries of coffee farmers and consumers
