Interim report: Czech Republic at EXPO 2010

A reminder: The Czech Republic is presenting itself at the EXPO 2010 World’s Fair until the end of October. According to the September issue of the Czech newsletter, around 5 million visitors came to the Czech Republic’s pavilion at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. This figure is of great significance to the Czech Republic, as everything indicates that the world, too, wants to discover the country.

The Czech Republic can rightly claim to have presented itself to optimum effect at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Interest in this young country was far greater than expected. The Czech presentation at EXPO 2010 focused on economic, tourism and cultural aspects. The central message—that the Czech Republic is an attractive destination with a unique culture, the appeal of nature, and a reputation for reliability in quality and performance—was successfully conveyed to the world. The country’s trump card was probably also the promising investment opportunities in its economy and tourism sector. This promotion of its interests was unquestionably noticed.
At EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, the Czech Republic succeeded in bringing all the themes together under the title “Fruits of Civilization.” It used every means imaginable to draw attention to the country as effectively and enduringly as possible. The pavilion alone, with an area of 2,000 m², imaginatively evoked Prague’s historic city centre. Nearly 65,000 ice hockey pucks were used to create it. But the Czech Republic is famous worldwide not only for ice hockey: this installation also represented the many other sports actively played in the country.

The interactive city inside the Czech pavilion provided plenty of fun and entertainment while also teaching visitors that ship propellers, nanofibres and even contact lenses are valuable products from the Czech Republic; that events such as the Defenestration of Prague, including the legend surrounding the Codex Gigas, are important milestones in world history; and that attractions such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, along with the country’s architecture and art, can create unforgettable moments during a stay in the Czech Republic. Among the remarkable exhibits was Lacrim Au, a tear made of pure gold. All the Czech Republic can do is hope that at least a small proportion of visitors to the Czech stand at EXPO 2010 will find their way to Prague, to Bohemia, Moravia or other regions of the country after 31 October 2010.