| THE SMURFS AT THE 2010 SHANGHAI EXPO |
Shanghai Expo 2010 Smurfs
2010 was a smurfy time to be in China! The Smurfs became Belgium's official ambassador at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.
The 2010 Expo featured over 200 countries and organizations from around the world, joined together to celebrate good urban policy and sustainable development under the banner of, "Better City, Better Life".
The Expo ran from May 1 to October 31 and was a smurfy success! |
Watch the Shanghai Expo Smurfs Video |
Belgium, for its role at the Expo, honored the theme by creating a pavilion made of recycled materials and using solar panels on the roof. The Belgian-European pavilion itself was over three square miles in size and designed to look like a giant brain cell! The "neuron" theme of the pavilion promoted Belgium's message of an "Intelligent Europe". In fact, the first floor of the pavilion featured a half square mile "European Union" exhibition. Visitors entered the Belgian pavilion (the "brain") through a "vein" entrance, made from a soft fibrous material designed to simulate the experience of exploring a living cell.
People dressed as Smurfs welcomed visitors while virtual Smurfs presented multimedia shows - The Smurfs were even part of a special song! The Smurfs shared the spotlight with famous Chinese singer Shang Wen Jie - check out the music video!
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Meet Ambassador Smurf
| Smurf Ambassadors
The real stars of the Belgian expo are, of course, the Smurfs! On March 10, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium, the Smurfs were officially declared the mascots of the Belgian Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
"Smurfs are lovely, kind and all good to others. They will not hurt anybody and are good people," said Leo Delcroix, the Belgian commissioner general.
If you look at the picture to the left, the white unpainted Smurf figures should look familiar - they were also used to promote the Smurf's 50th Anniversary European tour.
Belgium's ambassadors are true-blue to the theme of sustainable development - they live in perfect harmony with nature. |
Smurfs Shanghai Expo 2010
| Smurfs Expo Music Video
The Smurfs are music video stars... featuring in the 2010 Belgian Expo music video. In the song, the hidden Smurfs are lured out by the beautiful melody of Shang Wen Jie and Jean-François Maljean. Even Harmony Smurf joins in and manages to play in tune - surely a first for him! The video premiered on the Belgian National Day, June 13. It was then broadcast on Chinese television during October 2010. The lyrics of the song focus on unity, respect and the friendship between Belgium and China. |
In addition to the Smurfs, the Belgium pavilion celebrated the country's 250 year-old brewing tradition. The Belgian Beer Cafe had over 20 different varieties of beer that they gave away to visitors. The Chocolate Corner featured more than seventy chocolate mankers and over 20,000 free chocolates were distributed every day! And the Smurfs love chocolate too! A commemorative Smurf pin was created showing Smurf's love of Belgium chocolate with his fellow blue friend, Haibao *. A special chocolate "Great Wall of China" and "Oriental Pearl Tower" were on display too. Visitors to the expo could also see a mini-diamond factory that showcased how diamonds are cut. Last but not least, the Belgian Essence restaurant celebrated Belgium's finest chefs from around the country.
* Haibao, the Shanghai Expo mascot, is a fun little blue character - no wonder Hai Bao is friends with the Smurfs!
Belgian EU Pavilion
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Belgium & China Smurf Friends
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Smurf and Haibao Pin
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Saxophone Smurf
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Shang Wen Jie
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Happy Smurfs at Expo
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