On August 9, the Japanese version of the voting site was launched in presence of Mr. Bernard Weber, Founder of New7Wonders, at the Swiss pavilion.
“The presence of New 7 Wonders at the World Exposition fits perfectly with the Expo theme "Symphony of Global Harmony," said Weber. “It highlights the importance of global communication technology, the value of the world’s treasures and peaceful co-existence between cultures. This is exactly what we are trying to achieve with our historic, international, project.”
Virtual reality exhibitions are also a main feature of the exposition. The spectacular Swiss Pavilion, with a huge membrane in the shape of a mountain, featuring more than 120 exhibits, is the backdrop for the 3D recreation of the 55-metre Afghan Bamiyan Buddha. Initiated by Mr. Weber, efforts are now underway to restore the statue which was destroyed by the Taliban. The project was initially funded by the New7Wonders Foundation together with Mr. Bucherer of the Afghanistan Institute in Switzerland.
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| Bernard Weber and Manuel Salchli, Director of the Swiss Pavillon. |
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| General view of the main gate at EXPO 2005. |