Expo 2020 Dubai is preparing for a full-site takeover for UK National Day to celebrate extraordinary talents across the UK, from established musicians to emerging artists, amongst others. RLWC2021 has been selected as an official participant within the sports category for UK National Day. 

On 10 February 2022, the Expo site will become an extension of the UK, with new and diverse music, theatre, arts, poetry, sport, comedy, film, food and innovation that speaks to all ages and backgrounds, inviting the world to see things differently. UK National Day will recognise the UK’s contribution to the world and the exceptional people, places, businesses and innovations that inspire new thinking and solve shared problems through international collaboration.

UK National Day will celebrate British sport, with open spaces such as the Al Forsan Park set to be used for sports activities and entertainment. This will focus on the next stage of UK Sport, with an emphasis on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Rugby League World Cup 2021 and the cutting-edge tech of the game changing British Cycling, with diverse, influential athletes and sports celebrities set to be in attendance. 

Laura Faulkner OBE, UK Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai, says: 

“UK National Day will be the highlight of our participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, offering visitors from 191 countries the opportunity to see things differently and to celebrate our extraordinary talent from the UK and how we innovate all over the world. 

“From science and sport to film, music and food, UK National Day will provide a taste of the very best that the UK has to offer. With just a month to go until the celebrations kick off, I’m excited for visitors to enjoy the outstanding performances, acts and events we have in store.”

Jon Dutton, Chief Executive Officer for RLWC2021, says:

"It's a great honour and real privilege to be a representative of such an outstanding event like Expo 2020. To be able to showcase to the whole world the extraordinary efforts that we have made as a tournament to make sure we deliver the biggest and best ever Rugby League World Cup, is testament to the incredible hard work of our team. 

"We believe sport should be inclusive for all, and that has underpinned our values in creating a long lasting legacy through our tournament - with the men's, women's, and wheelchair tournaments under one umbrella of the RLWC2021, as well as our fantastic CreatedBy Capital Grants Programme, providing much needed grassroots funding to the heart of our rugby league communities."

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