Expo 2015 will be in Milan, Italy

Paris - The World Expo in 2015 will be hosted by Milan, Italy. On Monday, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) made this decision in Paris. BIE representatives preferred Milan over the Turkish city of Izmir, the AP agency reported.
    A total of 86 BIE representatives voted for Milan, while 65 voted for Izmir. The outgoing Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi described the voting outcome as a narrow victory. "The Turks also did an excellent job. But only one can win," he said after the announcement of the results.
    "I am very happy, but I also feel that responsibility," welcomed the victory Milan's mayor Letizia Moratti. She added that preparations for the World Expo would begin immediately.
    Celebrations broke out in Milan's Piazza del Duomo last night. Members of the organizing committee, which facilitated the city's bid for the Expo, were thrilled with the success. "This is a great satisfaction for us and at the same time a significant opportunity," stated Enrico Pazzali, director of the city exhibition center.
    World Expos are held every five years, and the Czech Republic regularly participates. The most recent Expo was hosted by Japan in 2005 in Aichi Prefecture. Expo 2010 will take place in Shanghai, China.