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By APD writer Muhammad Sohail
The Expo 2020 Dubai now has a face – literally. Well, two faces, actually; one of an eight-year-old Emirati girl called Latifa, and another of her nine-year-old brother, Rashid.
The two children are the official mascots of the Expo 2020 and are joined by three robots who are also mascots of the mega event happening from October next year. The bots, which resemble Star Wars’ BB-8 character, are called Alif, Opti, and Terra, and represent Dubai’s and the Expo’s focus on technology and innovation.
The mascots were unveiled at an event attended by Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. Each robot represents one of the Expo’s three main themes: opportunity, mobility, and sustainability.
The mascots will soon start appearing in advertisements and on buses across Dubai, and merchandise such as toys will be on sale from 2020.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the higher committee of the Expo 2020 Dubai, said in a statement that the purpose of the mascots was to strengthen the emotional connection to the event and bring the spirit of the Expo to life.
“The Expo 2020 mascots have been thoughtfully created to reflect the tradition of storytelling that is core to the region, highlighting our belief that when we come together, we can achieve great things,” he said.
“These characters are a reflection of the knowledge of homegrown talent that is delivering an exceptional World Expo, and they speak a universal language of ambition and aspiration.”
A series of short films starring the mascots will be released over the coming year, each focusing on a theme of the Expo.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
