Lithuania in the News
2nd September 2012
Lithuania’s Pavilion at EXPO 2012 recognised as one of the best with a Silver Medal
The Lithuanian pavilion. Photo courtesy 2012expo.lt
The International EXPO 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea, has just concluded. Lithuania’s Pavilion was a hit with visitors and received a very high evaluation by a panel of eight independent experts commissioned by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE). It was placed second among
Visitors examine displays of amber inside the
Lithuanian pavilion. Photo courtesy 2012expo.lt
EXPO’s pavilions and received Silver for the creative realisation of the theme of EXPO 2012 - “The Living Ocean and Coast”. The Gold went to the Philippines’ pavilion, while Mexico’s pavilion received Bronze.
Lithuania’s pavilion also received high praise by the “EXHIBITOR magazine”, which placed Lithuania’s and Australia’s pavilions among the 20 best pavilions. The magazine invited people to vote for one of these in the EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Expo 2012 Awards competition, in the People’s Choice category. Lithuania received an Honourable mention for the Best Exhibit in the Small Pavilion class and the Australia Pavilion – “Ocean” won for the Best Presentation.
During the 3 months that EXPO 2012 was running May 12 - August 12, 2012, Lithuania’s pavilion received over 600 thousand visitors, up to 20,000 visitors per day. The theme of Lithuania’s pavilion was Lithuania’s national jewel – amber. The Lithuanian pavilion was bathed in amber light and its design was meant to provide an illusion of the visitor becoming an amber inclusion. Found on Lithuania’s Baltic Sea coast, amber in ancient times was a major source of trade between Lithuania and the rest of Europe. In fact, in Roman times amber was valued more than gold!
Lithuania’s pavilion hosted numerous Lithuanian artists. During the special Lithuania’s Day at EXPO on June 24 there were performances of the outstanding World and European champion Dancesport ensemble “Žuvėdra” and the folk art group “Dainava”. Australian Lithuanians will remember “Dainava” from their visit to Australia earlier this year, when they enlivened Independence Day festivities with concerts in all major cities with Lithuanian communities.
It is now for the 10th time that Lithuania has participated in World EXPOs, including all the EXPOs since independence in 1990. In fact, at the World EXPO in Paris in 1900 Lithuania managed to get its voice heard and campaigned for independence, even though at that time it was still part of the Russian empire!

Further information: www.2012expo.lt  www.exhibitoronline.com/topics/expo2012/