The well-known Chinese actor Jackie Chan was presented this Tuesday in Belgrade as a ‘brand ambassador’ for ‘Expo 2027’, which under the slogan ‘Let’s Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All’ will host the Serbian capital, an appointment that adds to that of the famous Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. After receiving Chan, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic praised “the charisma and energy” of the Oscar-winning martial arts artist and expressed his conviction that he will contribute to the success of the international ‘Specialized Exhibition’ that will take place between May 15 and August 15, 2027, for the first time in the Western Balkans. For Serbia, it is a “great honor” that the multifaceted movie star, who is already “one of the greatest cultural ambassadors in the world”, will from now on represent the prominent event, the head of state said in a statement published on social media. Chan was already an ambassador for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and sang at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Games. In addition, the actor, singer, acrobat, comedian, film director, screenwriter and producer born in Hong Kong has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005. “I am convinced that, as a promoter of Expo 2027, (Chan) will provide strong support in the presentation of the event, which will place our country at the center of global attention and bring the spirit of play that the EXPO promotes in our Serbia closer to the world,” Vucic wrote.
So far, the sum of Chan’s contract has not been officially revealed, which, according to Expo sources, is covered by the sponsors. The Serbian weekly Vreme estimates that the figure could be between $250,000 and $750,000.
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Some economists have pointed out that the organization of the Expo, in which 117 countries have already confirmed their participation, may signify a new opportunity for corruption for the Executive, by involving projects that would generate significant commissions. The event will take place on a newly developed plot of land that includes the construction of a 52,000-seat stadium, a shopping complex, and a future trade fair, all of which will be located in an ‘urban oasis’ that will serve as a destination for tourists and visitors, according to the plans. The ‘Kreni-Promeni’ movement, a prominent Serbian civic organization, delivered in July to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE, in French) in Paris about 120,000 signatures from people demanding the cancellation of Expo 2027 in Belgrade, due to possible corruption risks. Belgrade was chosen to host the 2027 Specialised Expo at the BIE General Assembly held in Paris in June 2023, after prevailing over San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina), Phuket (Thailand), Minnesota (United States) and, in the final vote, Málaga (Spain).
