The mascot for 2010 World Expo is to be unveiled on Dec. 18
after a worldwide search for designs, the Bureau of Shanghai World
Expo Coordination announced on Wednesday.
Hu Jinjun, deputy-director of the bureau, said Shanghai would
hold a gala to unveil the mascot, which will be broadcast live on
TV, radio and the Internet.
Shanghai has been soliciting designs for the mascot since
January, and received 26,655 proposals from 24 countries and
regions by May 31.
The World Expo, held every five years, will be held in Shanghai
from May 1 to Oct. 31 in 2010 with the theme "Better City, Better
Life."
The mascots for last World Expo held in Aichi, Japan, in 2005
were two forest elves: a knowledgeable grandpa Morizo and a curious
grandson Kiccoro.
(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2007)