'Olympics Of Orchids' Opens in Singapore - Largest Orchid Show in Singapore to Feature World's Finest Orchids

Singapore, 11 November 2011 - The 20th World Orchid Conference (20WOC) World Orchid Show, also known as the 'Olympics of Orchids', opens in 2 days in Singapore from 13 to 20 November 2011 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre Basement 2. Visitors to the show will be treated to more than 75 stunning displays showcasing the world's finest and most spectacular orchids. The triennial prestigious international event will be the largest orchid show in Singapore, with every orchid within the displays competing for top accolades in the orchid world. Organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) and Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA), the eight-day show is expected to attract some 300,000 local and international visitors.

Singapore won the bid to host the 20WOC six years ago, and is the only Asian city with the rare privilege of hosting the WOC for the second time. The 4WOC was the held in this city 48 years ago in 1963. President of the World Orchid Conference Trust, Peter Furniss, said: "There are three areas that a World Orchid Conference needs to provide its registrants - a world-class show, an excellent conference schedule, and alluring social events. Singapore excels in all of these, and the 1,000 plus registrants have the opportunity to experience each one, while the expected 300,000 show attendees will be able to revel in the stunning beauty of what promises to be an extraordinary experience."

He added: "The planning that has gone into the show, evidenced by the increasing quality of the orchid exhibits in the three Singapore Garden Festivals held in 2006, 2008, and 2010, has been unparalleled by any earlier WOC. The judges will have a tough time selecting the winning entries because there are so many really fine exhibits and thousands of beautiful, high quality orchids."

Themed "Where New and Old World Orchids Meet', 20WOC comprises three components:

i) The World Orchid Show will feature more than 75 stunning displays of orchid species and hybrids by exhibitors from 19 countries. The displays at the World Orchid Show and the orchids within them will be judged by an international panel of over 210 orchid judges from 25 countries. From 14 to 20 November, ticket holders to the show will also gain complimentary entry to preview the new Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay. Phase one of this iconic world-class waterfront gardens will only officially open in June 2012.

ii) A Conference with lectures, workshops and seminars by some 130 orchid experts from 31 countries covering the latest trends, technology, and scientific discoveries in the orchid world. The conference attracted more than 1,000 registrants from around the globe.

iii) A Marketplace where visitors can shop for the finest orchid plants, unique orchid-related products, and products with exquisite orchid-themed designs by some 80 vendors from 17 countries.

Educational exhibits

A key highlight of the 20WOC is the educational exhibits, which are unique to the show hosted in Singapore. The exhibits include a world orchid map, the show centrepiece, which showcases the diverse locations where orchids (believed to be the world's largest flowering plant family) are found around the globe. A striking orchid lantern accompanies the map, decorated with orchid balls and light features.

Singapore has welcomed many important visitors by naming orchids after them. Some of these VIP orchids, such as Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher and Paravanda Nelson Mandela will be featured around the orchid map. At the Walk of Fame, visitors will also be able to learn about renowned orchid experts who have made significant contributions and achievements to the orchid world. They include Charles Darwin, who contributed significantly to the study of orchid reproduction, and Eric Holttum, a former director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens who introduced cultivation of orchid seedlings in flasks. Other interesting features include a video on pollination of orchids by bees, limited edition volumes from the Orchid Album published in the 1890s with beautiful hand-painted orchid drawings, photographs and memorabilia from the 1963 WOC held in Singapore, and educational panels on the conservation of native orchid species of Singapore.