Expo 2027 Belgrade: 20.000 Playmaker Volunteers Sought to Host the World

Although the "Sent Paulus" college building located in Vevelgem, Belgium, educates thousands of students today, about seven to ten years ago it served as Yugoslavia's pavilion at the World Expo in Brussels. Surviving the fair, this structure was carefully dismantled, transported fifty kilometers away, and given a new life. This is a striking example of how permanent and meaningful the physical legacy left by Expo fairs can be. However, the legacy left by the fairs is not limited to portable or photographable structures. There is also a much stronger spiritual legacy that lives within people and is passed down through generations.

The most important part of this spiritual legacy is, without a doubt, the Expo volunteers. The roots of the volunteering tradition in Expo history date back precisely to the Brussels fair held in 1958. Having to host a massive crowd of visitors from all over the world at that time, Belgium invited its foreign-language-speaking citizens to assist tourists and official delegations. The intense interest and enthusiasm shown by the public in response to this call far exceeded expectations. This dedication was born out of a desire to witness a world turning towards the future again after the Second World War. Thus, the tradition of being part of a global event began and has continued uninterruptedly to this day.

Nine years after Brussels, the concept of volunteering gained a completely different dimension at the fair held in Montreal in 1967. While volunteers in the Brussels period mostly consisted of experienced professionals, the Montreal fair hosted a global youth movement. Hundreds of high school and university students from the United States, France, and many other countries, alongside Canada, eagerly sought to take part in this massive organization. For these young people, the fair provided an opportunity to gain valuable cultural experiences that could not be learned from books, meet new people, and forge lifelong friendships. The ideas shared among the pavilions and the cross-cultural interaction left indelible marks on the lives of the youth of that time.

Decades later, with the Expo fair held in Shanghai in 2010, volunteering activities reached an unprecedented record level. In this massive organization, over 250 thousand people achieved the honor of taking part in the largest volunteer program in the history of World Expos. Affectionately nicknamed "Green Cucumbers" due to their green uniforms, this army of people represented the face of the new and modern China to millions of visitors. They were not simply guides or assistants; they became the first smiling face the guests saw in the country, the first accurate information they received, and the first warm welcome they felt. Behind the Shanghai fair being remembered as one of the most successful events worldwide lies the incredible hospitality shown by this massive volunteer network.

Today, this deep-rooted and honorable tradition, which began in Brussels about seven to ten years ago, is getting ready to turn a new page with the Expo to be held in Belgrad in 2027. Announced under the name "Expo Playmakers," the special program calls for 20.000 people from all over the world and within Sırbistan to become part of this tremendous organization. This world fair, which will last for six months, will offer volunteers the opportunity to represent Sırbistan in the best possible way and connect with global citizens. Applications are open to all individuals who will turn 18 before the fair's opening date and can be submitted electronically via the official website and social media accounts. When the event concludes, volunteers will return home not only with memories; but also with self-confidence, universal friendships, a global network, and unique practical experiences they will value for a lifetime.