Dubai: While we wait at the edge of our seats for its commencement, Expo 2020 Dubai is inching slowly towards us with a giant catalogue of events, performances and activities. Among spots to keep an eye on are Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
Here's a list of some of the most interesting programmes happening from October to March in sports, music, entertainment and special events. Mark your calendars now for a fun time.
In the effort to advocate for physical well-being, Expo 2020 Dubai has set in motion an array of sports events running throughout the upcoming six months. Ranging from the largest jiu-jitsu lesson to netball, country pavilions are gearing up to host friendly, high-spirited competitions and games.
You can sit by the sidelines and enjoy netball and cricket exhibition matches or participate in rigorous Track and Field exercises. An exciting hybrid sport innovation of table tennis and football called 'teqball' will be introduced by Hungary this December. The icing on the cake this Expo, however, is the World Chess Championship to be hosted at the DEC in November. Don’t miss out on the chance to witness the exhilarating sport events planned for this Expo.
Key sport events and their start dates:
October 9, 2021: Australia, Inter-pavilion Multi Sports Round Robin Tournament October 9, 2021: Australia, Exhibition Cricket Match October 14, 2021: Australia, AFL (Australian Football League)/Netball Skills and Drills October 16, 2021: Australia, Netball Exhibition Match October 17, 2021: Australia, Football Skills and Drills and modified games October 30, 2021: United States, Harlem Globetrotters November 3, 2021: Australia, daily 45-minute body transformation exercise classes November 5, 2021: Australia, Friday morning Expo Park Run Series November 6, 2021: Australia, Row the Emirates November 15, 2021: Brazil, World’s Largest Jiu Jitsu Lesson November 25, 2021 to December 16, 2021: FIDE World Chess Championship 2021 December 2, 2021: Australia, Rugby 7s December 3, 2021: France, Shizen Sport Truck December 11, 2021: Australia, Weekend Aussie Sports BBQ December 20, 2021: Hungary, Teqball Activation February 15, 2022: Australia, E-Sports Evening March 16, 2021: Australia, Sports Classes with Regional Leading Female Athletes Reviving the spirits of all those who come to watch, musical performances and other entertainment events will be conducted by different countries across Expo. Performers across the globe take centre stage as they showcase their creative and artistic talents at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Jubilee Stage and many more.
The festivities are unending. There are concerts by an all-women orchestra led by AR Rahman, for instance, and New Zealand band Six60. For those who prefer visual entertainment, street theatre, film and dance performances will be right up your alley. There’s a recreational show for everyone; from toddlers and pre-teens to adults and grandparents.
Events and their start dates:
October 8, 2021: Saudi Arabia, Family Show Theatre October 12, 2021: Jalsat Nights October 14-15, October 21-22 and October 28-29, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo October 14 to October 16, 2021: Lusophonia Festival October 22, 2021: Lithuania, Gala Concert October 23, 2021: All-Women Firdaus Orchestra October 31, 2021: Entertainment Halloween Hero Event November 4-5, November 11, November 13 and November 25-26, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo November 5, 2021: Spain, Miguel Trapaga 'The Spanish Guitar' November 8, 2021: Jalsat Nights November 11, 2021: Poland, Chopin Competition Laureate concert November 13, 2021: Monaco, jazz concert November 16, 2021: All-Women Firdaus Orchestra November 21, 2021: Hungary, Félix Lajkó violin concert December 2-3, December 9, December 11, December 23-24 and December 30, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo December 6, 2021: Jalsat Nights December 18, 2021: Sri Lanka, Fashion Show Theatre December 18, 2021: Arabic Language Day Hero Event December 19, 2021: Al Burda Festival January 2, 2022: Iran, Children’s Entertainment: Storytelling and puppet show January 12, 2022: Jalsat Nights January 17 and January 23, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir) January 28 to January 31, 2022: New Zealand, Live Street Art January 31 to February 2, 2022: New Zealand, 'The Royal Family' dance performance January 31, 2022: New Zealand, band Six60 represent 'Sounds of Aotearoa' January 6, January 8, January 13-14, January 27 and January 29, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo February 3, February 4-5, February 11-12 and February 24-25, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo February 6 and February 27, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir) February 9, 2022: Jalsat Nights February 13, 2022: Guinea, 'Wontanara: A Mixed Cultural Tour of Guinea' February 17 to February 19, 2022: Spain, 'Mulïer' street theatre March 3, March 5, March 17-18, March 24-25 and March 31, 2021: Late Nights @ Expo March 13 and March 20, 2022: Nasheed Al Wasl (Student Choir) March 15, 2022: Jalsat Nights March 18 to March 22, 2022: Iran, Folk Music Band International Days and special events
The Expo calendar is set to recognise noteworthy dates celebrated and acknowledged worldwide. International days serve to remind us of the global issues such as the inclusion of minority groups and climate change. During these six months, issues will be explored, discussed and dissected under a global platform that connects us all.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to celebrate special holidays namely the UAE's Golden Jubilee, Christmas, Chinese New year, Diwali, International Women’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
Events and their start dates:
October 16, 2021: World Food Day October 31, 2021: World Cities Day November 3, 2021: UAE Golden Jubilee Celebration November 14, 2021: Diwali November 16, 2021: International Day for Tolerance December 3, 2021: International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 5, 2021: International Volunteer Day December 10, 2021: Human Rights Day December 12, 2021: International Universal Health Coverage Day December 18, 2021: World Arabic Language Day December 21 to December 25, 2021: Christmas December 31, 2021: New Year’s Eve February 11, 2022: International Day of Women and Girls in Science February 12, 2021: Chinese New Year February 14, 2022: Valentine’s Day March 3 and March 31, 2022: Closing ceremony March 8, 2022: International Women’s Day March 20, 2022: International Day of Happiness March 21, 2022: Mother’s Day March 22, 2022: World Water Day To honour the 191 countries participating in this year’s Expo, each country will receive a special ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza to appreciate their contributions towards Expo 2020. While country participants celebrate their allocated national days, certain intergovermental bodies will be spotlighted on Honour Days as well. The National and Honour Days will include a flag ceremony with the country’s national anthem playing alongside it.
Post this, a spectacle of the country’s cultural performances including dance, music and other festivities will be in the limelight at the Stage of Nations. Dedicating a day to each of the countries present at this year’s Expo aligns with one of the Expo’s core principles to be ‘Multinational, Multicultural and Inclusive.’ The Expo 2020 is a great way to expose and emerge yourself in the abundance of cultures coming together from around the world.
List of National and Honour Days sorted chronologically:
October 2, 2021: Republic of France October 3, 2021: Republic of Uganda October 4, 2021: Ukraine October 5, 2021: Republic of Vanuatu October 9, 2021: Turkmenistan October 11, 2021: Gambia October 12, 2021: Kingdom of Eswatini October 13, 2021: Republic of Senegal October 14, 2021: Republic of Sierra Leone October 16, 2021: Commonwealth of Dominica October 17, 2021: Cote d’Ivoire October 18, 2021: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste October 19, 2021: Republic of Guyana October 20, 2021: Republic of Panama October 21, 2021: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines October 22, 2021: Republic of Lithuania October 23, 2021: Honour day - European Union October 24, 2021: Honour day - United Nations October 25, 2021: Republic of Maldives October 26, 2021: Negara Brunei Darussalam October 27, 2021: Kingdom of Lesotho October 28, 2021: Republic of Seychelles October 29, 2021: Switzerland Confederation October 30, 2021: Arab Republic of Egypt October 31, 2021: Republic of Finland November 1, 2021: Antigua and Barbuda November 1, 2021: Republic of Indonesia November 2, 2021: Federated States of Micronesia November 3, 2021: Kingdom of the Netherlands November 4, 2021: Kingdom of Tonga November 5, 2021: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria November 6, 2021: Federal Republic of Nigeria November 7, 2021: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela November 8, 2021: Union of the Comoros November 9, 2021: Republic of Azerbaijan November 10, 2021: Republic of Burundi November 10, 2021: United Mexican States November 11, 2021: Republic of Colombia November 12, 2021: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan November 13, 2021: Principality of Monaco November 14, 2021: Syrian Arab Republic November 15, 2021: Federative Republic of Brazil November 16, 2021: Mongolia November 16, 2021: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis November 17, 2021: Plurinational State of Bolivia November 18, 2021: Republic of Haiti November 18, 2021: Lao People’s Democratic Republic November 19, 2021: Republic of Austria November 20, 2021: Republic of Malawi November 21, 2021: Sultanate of Oman November 22, 2021: Republic of Belarus November 23, 2021: Republic of Lebanon November 24, 2021: Republic of Italy November 25, 2021: Kingdom of Bahrain November 27, 2021: Republic of Latvia November 27, 2021: Republic of Suriname November 28, 2021: United States of America November 29, 2021: Federal Republic of Germany November 30, 2021: Belize November 30, 2021: Republic of Liberia December 1, 2021: Republic of Kazakhstan December 2, 2021: United Arab Emirates December 3, 2021:Independent State of Samoa December 3, 2021: Republic of Chile December 4, 2021: Russian Federation December 5, 2021: Kingdom of Thailand December 6, 2021: Gabonese Republic December 7, 2021: Republic of Poland December 7, 2021: Republic of Costa Rica December 8, 2021: Republic of Fiji December 8, 2021: Uzbekistan December 9, 2021: Republic of Honduras December 9, 2021: Republic of Palau December 10, 2021: Republic of Iraq December 11, 2021: Japan December 12, 2021: Republic of Equatorial Guinea December 12, 2021: Republic of Nauru December 13, 2021: Honour Day - ASEAN December, 2021: Kyrgyz Republic December 15, 2021: Kingdom of Sweden December 16, 2021: People’s Republic of Bangladesh December 17, 2021: Kingdom of Bhutan December 17, 2021: Republic of Mali December 18, 2021: Republic of Niger December 18, 2021: Bosnia and Herzegovina December 19, 2021: State of Qatar December 21, 2021: Republic of Togo December 21, 2021: Solomon Islands December 22, 2021: Republic of Tajikistan December 23, 2021: Democratic Republic of Congo December 26, 2021: Kingdom of Morocco December 28, 2021: Republic of Kiribati December 29, 2021: Georgia December 30, 2021: Socialist Republic of Vietnam January 1, 2022: Republic of Yemen January 2, 2022: Nepal January 3, 2022: Sri Lanka January 4, 2022: Tunisia January 5, 2022: Sudan January 6, 2022: Tuvalu January 7, 2022: Saudi Arabia January 8, 2022: Malaysia January 9, 2022: Israel January 10, 2022: China January 11, 2022: Mauritania January 11, 2022: Chad January 12, 2022: Guinea-Bissau January 13, 2022: Barbados January 14, 2022: Portugal January 15, 2022: Djibouti January 15, 2022: Grenada January 16, 2022: South Korea January 17, 2022: Sao Tome and Principe January 17, 2022: Bahamas January 18, 2022: Nicaragua January 19, 2022: Malta January 20, 2022: Zambia January 21, 2022: Peru January 22, 2022: Singapore January 24, 2022: Cambodia January 25, 2022: El Salvador January 25, 2022: Baden-Wurttemberg January 26, 2022: India January 27, 2022: Slovakia January 28, 2022: Andorra January 28, 2022: Canada January 29, 2022: Australia January 30, 2022: Armenia January 31, 2022: New Zealand February 1, 2022: Rwanda February 2, 2022: Spain February 3, 2022: Cabo Verde February 4, 2022: Angola February 5, 2022: Belgium February 6, 2022: Montenegro February 7, 2022: Mozambique February 7, 2022: Iran February 8, 2022: Slovenia February 9, 2022: Bulgaria February 10, 2022: United Kingdom February 11, 2022: Philippines February 13, 2022: Guinea February 14, 2022: Cuba February 15, 2022: Serbia February 16, 2022: Kenya February 17, 2022: Denmark February 17, 2022: Kosovo February 18, 2022: Jamaica February 19, 2022: South Sudan February 20, 2022: Myanmar February 21, 2022: Uruguay February 22, 2022: Saint Lucia February 22, 2022: North Macedonia February 23, 2022: Norway February 24, 2022: Cyprus February 24, 2022: Madagascar February 25, 2022: Kuwait February 26, 2022: Tanzania February 28, 2022: Benin February 28, 2022: Papua New Guinea March 1, 2022: Romania March 2, 2022: Ethiopia March 3, 2022: Moldova March 3, 2022: Burkina Faso March 4, 2022: Paraguay March 5, 2022: Dominican Republic March 6, 2022: Croatia March 7, 2022: Somalia March 8, 2022: Ghana March 9, 2022: Albania March 10, 2022: Afghanistan March 10, 2022: Argentina March 11, 2022: Trinidad and Tobago March 12, 2022: Cameroon March 13, 2022: Botswana March 14, 2022: Zimbabwe March 15, 2022: Mauritius March 16, 2022: Honour Day – Gulf Cooperation Council March 17, 2022: Ireland March 18, 2022: Hungary March 19, 2022: Holy See March 20, 2022: Estonia March 21, 2022: Czech Republic March 22, 2022: DRC March 23, 2022: Pakistan March 24, 2022: Namibia March 25, 2022: Greece March 27, 2022: Marshall Islands March 28, 2022: South Africa March 29, 2022: Guatemala March 31, 2022: Honour Day – BIE Day - The writer is an intern with Gulf News.
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