Glisenti leaves after the successful management of the Italian section of theDubai Expo 2020 during which a Pavilion different from all the others had been created, where our three-millenial history, art, science and culture poured into the genius and the Made in Italy:. And the emblem of it all was visually represented by the first ever 3D reproduction of the David of Michelangelo, with the statue reproduced in the same original dimensions and shapes. A masterpiece of Italian ingenuity at the roots of our abilities in industry, design, tourism, fashion and biodiversity that the UAE authorities have asked to donate so that it can be exhibited on the large Expo site destined to welcome millions of tourists and conventioneers.
One detail suffices to represent this success: in Dubai they appeared halfway through the exhibition Adversting board gigantic in the most visible areas of the emirate with the reproduction of the David and the writing "Haven't you visited the Expo yet?".
An amazing supplementary advertisement, with a perennial queue of visitors (over 1 million and 600 thousand) at the entrance to the escalator, in the square in front where musical ensembles performed every day and, above all, in the night arena with weekly recitals by our great artists . Six uninterrupted months of “sold out”: 5000 events attended by Heads of State and Government and ministers of many countries, Olympic medal-winning athletes and famous sportsmen, managers, many people who wanted to thank and congratulate them as they left – “I'm proud to be Italian!” – with tens
of volunteer university students who accompanied crowds of visitors, explaining everything in all the languages of the world.
Almost inevitable, after the Expo, that the Prime Minister Mario Draghi nominated Paolo Glisenti Also commissioner for the Japanese Expo of '25. Our representative had already re-established unique and delicate relationships, managing among other things to obtain a privileged position for the next Italian Pavilion, close to the entrance and restaurants by the sea.
But things went downhill in a short time: the new rulers began to adopt a closure policy and lack of cooperation with the Commissariat, inexplicable braking and puerile obstacles that hindered practices and decisions that have delays (there are just over two years left before the start of the next universal exposition) as their main enemy. Glisenti didn't feel like prolonging the uncertainties of a limping management and, above all for the good of the institutions, she preferred to leave the field free. And he resigned.
We'll see who will take his place, what experiences, what specific credentials (in addition to proximity to some majority party) he will be able to exhibit. Whoever it is, it will represent a moment of fall for this way of governing. We forced to resign the only manager who could boast theassignment to Milan of Expo 2015, the excellent management of the Pavilion in Dubai and the very delicate setting of Osaka '25. Yet another bad sign for Rome's candidacy for Expo2030. Let's assume that the organization is assigned to the Eternal City: with what face will we initiate contacts and relationships if it were clear to all the countries of the world that the direction of everything can be distorted because the Government has changed?
