Melbourne welcomes the world in opening spectacular

Through the melodic rhythm of the didgeridoo and traditional dancing, the 2016 ITS World Congress opening ceremony reflected the 2,500 generations that indigenous people have lived in Australia while the speakers considered the challenges facing host city Melbourne, other urban areas around Australia
October 10, 2016 Read time: 1 min
Local indigenous Australian Ian Hunter, performs a smoking ceremony believed to have cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits
Through the melodic rhythm of the didgeridoo and traditional dancing, the 2016 ITS World Congress opening ceremony reflected the 2,500 generations that indigenous people have lived in Australia while the speakers considered the challenges facing host city Melbourne, other urban areas around Australia – and indeed the world. Delegates were told that Melbourne’s population is expected to double by 2050, exacerbating the transport challenges that are so prevalent across an increasing urbanised world. So during the congress, more than 1,000 discussions, 300 exhibitors, 13 demonstrations and technical tours of all transport modes will help the 9,200 delegates take ideas and solutions back to 70 nations.

Then, having cut the ribbon to officially open the Congress, delegates, exhibitors and presenters alike were treated to a welcome reception sponsored by Cubic Transport System were treated to networking opportunities and colourful entertainment.

Related Content

  • Imperatives to shape extended mobility ecosystems of tomorrow
    April 10, 2014
    New survey shows cities ill prepared to meet the increasing demand for urban mobility. Most of the world’s cities are ill-equipped to cope with the predicted increase in demands on urban travel – that is the stark finding of the second ‘Future of Urban Mobility’ study carried out by global management consultancy Arthur D. Little. Compiled in association with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), the survey examines and rates urban mobility in 84 cities worldwide against an extended set o
    Read More
  • Covid-19 cleared the air: ITS can keep it clean
    July 31, 2020
    Covid-19 has created cleaner air: ITS can help keep it that way – but it’s not going to be straightforward, as Graham Anderson discovers
    Read More
  • The ABC of CARTES 2014: Apple, Bitcoin and cloud security are all on the conference agenda
    October 28, 2014
    CARTES 2014, the global event for payment, identification and mobility, is fast approaching and the world’s experts in the sector are about to head to Paris for its biggest and most important annual gathering. The 2013 event welcomed more than 20,000 visitors, some 1,670 of whom attended the opening conference - the World Card Summit - while also visiting the 450 exhibitors at the venue.
    Read More
  • ITS World Congress demo information now available
    September 28, 2015
    With 35 live, technical and interactive ITS demonstrations at this year’s World Congress there will be plenty of opportunities to see and experience first-hand the latest technology being developed and implemented in the industry. Each of the demonstrations will take place in the immediate vicinity of the Congress Exhibition Hall during the World Congress. Some demonstration highlights in each of the categories include: Space technologies and services for ITS: the Satellite Applications Catapult will dis
    Read More

Highlighted Content