Riyadh Wins Expo 2030, Rome Finishes Last

Riyadh has been selected to host Expo 2030, winning with 119 votes from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) at a meeting in Paris. Rome came in third with only 17 votes, behind Busan (29 votes). The Italian delegation, led by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, included Giampiero Massolo (president of the Expo 2030 committee), Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, Lazio Vice President Roberta Angelilli, and celebrity ambassadors Bebe Vio, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Trudie Styler. Despite a detailed bid featuring a solar farm project by architect Carlo Ratti in Tor Vergata and a video message from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rome failed to overcome the Saudi capital's massive investments and development plans. Riyadh's victory was supported by football star Cristiano Ronaldo and proceeds despite regional tensions from the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Expo will coincide with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to attract over 40 million visitors in six months. A new planet-shaped district will be built north of the city to host national pavilions, an oasis, and a monument with 195 pillars symbolizing global equality. Rome's bid had projected €50.6 billion in economic impact, 11,000 new companies, and 300,000 jobs.