Yeosu/Nairobi, 14 August 2012 - After welcoming over 8,000 visitors each day over the past three months, the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2012 in Yeosu, Republic of Korea, has finally closed its doors.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the pavilion on its final day, where he received a guided tour from co-commissioners Ms. Amina Mohamed, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Mr. Samuel Koo.
Expo 2012 was held for 93 days under the theme The Living Ocean and Coast, and received more than 8 million visitors in total. The UN Pavilion received around 10 percent of all visits to the Expo.
The UN pavilion, which was coordinated by UNEP, highlighted the work of 24 UN bodies and international organizations through a specially-designed 'space tunnel', quizzes, film screenings, workshops and a diverse calendar of exhibitions and events.
In the space tunnel - the entry point of the UN pavilion - visitors were met with striking images of the world's oceans as seen from outer space. They then embarked on an interactive journey from land to ocean, learning how everyday choices and actions can impact the health of oceans and coasts.
Visitors also took part in a simulated oil spill clean-up, and were presented with information on marine biodiversity and the impacts of marine litter.
The journey ended at an interactive pledge wall, where visitors could commit to individual actions to support the world's oceans and coasts.
"We are confident that together with other Pavilions, the UN Pavilion has helped to raise environmental awareness for the millions of people who have visited the Expo," said UNEP Executive Director Amina Mohamed.
"Marine species are disappearing, sea levels are rising, and ocean chemistry, which ultimately affects fish production and our future, is changing at an alarming rate. We need to take the responsibility for these changes. From the Climate Environment Pavilion to the Theme Pavilion, the Expo has demonstrated the ingenuity and technology that we possess to implement the changes we want," she added.
Just two days before the Secretary-General's visit, the 2012 Expo celebrated UN Day with special cultural performances from countries including Angola, Argentina, Malaysia and Romania.
