Seoul will host the World Design Olympiad 2008 from Oct. 10 to 30 as part of efforts to enhance and promote Seoul as a world center for design. The main venue is the Jamsil Sports Complex and nearby Hangang Riverside Park.

The world's first comprehensive design event will invite experts and young talent from various backgrounds such as public, industrial and graphic design, and fashion.

``The event will bring people together, regardless of nationality, age and race as the largest-ever design festival,'' Kwon Young-gull, deputy mayor and chief design officer of the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday during a news conference. ``Children, couples, families and experts will be all invited to join in various programs at the Olympiad.''

The city government expects the event will help position the city as a design Mecca in line with its designation as World Design Capital 2010.

The International Design Alliance (IDA) selects a city as a World Design Capital in recognition of its achievement or potential in the development of design. Seoul was designated, Oct. 21, 2007.

The city government expects the event will draw over two million people including world famous designers such as Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Ross Lovegrove as well as renowned Korean designers. Also expected are educators, entrepreneurs, students, rising talent, citizens and tourists.

The Olympiad consists of four main events ― the Seoul Design Conference, Seoul Design Competition, Seoul Design Exhibition and Seoul Design Festival.

The conference will serve as a venue for exchanging design issues where international and domestic designers, educators, entrepreneurs, and city planners will gather and discuss the future of design.

Under the theme of ``Design is AIR,'' they will have in-depth debates and explore design expansion, convergence, sustainability, vitality and flow through invited speeches and discussions, and paper and poster presentations. The conference will be held from Oct. 9 to 12.

The Seoul Design Competition aims to present design visions and strategies of cities around the world and discover future-oriented design solutions applicable to Seoul's urban projects through the participation of students and professionals.

Selected works from primary and secondary submissions will be exhibited from Oct. 10 to 30 at the complex and finalists, who will be awarded during the closing ceremony, will be selected on Oct. 10.

At the Seoul Design Exhibition, guests can take a glimpse of international design trends through creative works by domestic and foreign designers while the Seoul Design Festival focuses on citizen participation where visitors can see, hear, smell, taste and touch design.

To celebrate the event, organizers will offer an opening celebratory performance, fashion shows and design tours. Other events include an auction, live concert, food festival, a mini fashion show and B-boy performances.

Source: www.koreatimes.co.kr