Sunday, June 7, Expo Milano 2015 hosts the National Day of Estonia. Live music of different genres and a sporting event that will try to break the world record in kiiking (a sport invented in Estonia) are the main events planned for this day.

 

The program of events

The National Day of Estonia will start at 11:00, with the flag-raising ceremony at the Expo Center in the presence of the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Commissioner General of Estonia, Ahti Kuningas. The anthem will be performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tonu Kaljust. Estonian cyclists returning from their successes in the EXPORIDE tour will participate in the parade, that will reach the Estonia Pavilion at about 11:45. The Pavilion will host the official opening of the exhibition space on its first floor. The day will continue with a cooking show at 12:30 and two musical events: first a concert from the Symphony Orchestra of the Music School of Tallinn and the Harju County String Orchestra, conducted by the maestros Ott Kask and Sirly Illak-Olustvere. The music at the Pavilion then continues with the groups Eesti Pops and the Elephants from Neptune.

 

Will the kiiking record be broken?

 

The most exciting time for sports fans is expected in the afternoon when a group of intrepid athletes will attempt to break the kiiking record as set in the Guinness Book of World Records; a highly unique activity, invented in Estonia, it requires a 360 ° turn, swinging over the top of a pivot point on special swings called Kiiks. The swings will be available (in a simplified form) in the Estonia Pavilion. The current record belongs to Estonian, Ants Tamme, who in 2012 succeeded to do the full 360 degrees turn on a Kiik 7.03 meters in length. 

The day will end with cooking shows and other musical moments, including the duo Elina Born & Stig Rästa, Eurovision finalists. At 20:30 there will be a private reception with the Commissioner-General of the Estonian Pavilion and finally the day will close with music from the group Elephants from Neptune on the main stage.

 

Visit the Pavilion Estonia

 

Estonia presents an original pavilion, made entirely of wood, where the innovations from young Estonians are presented under the theme of Gallery of Estonia . The wooden structure is a succession of boxes interspersed with open spaces, in each of which there are two swings, inspired by kiiking, the sport invented in 1996 by Ado Kosk.  In Expo Milano 2015, these swings are available to visitors, where the energy created by the swinging action is measured. Once five swings are made, the energy is transferred to cell phone chargers, available to visitors.