TEDGlobal will take place in Rio in 2014
The global set of multi-disciplinary conferences TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) will take place in Latin America for the first time, its organizers have announced today (12).
The event, which has been held in Edinburgh for the last few years, will take place at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro from October 6-10, 2014 and will be themed around innovation in South America.
“Rio has been beckoning TED for many years, both metaphorically and literally,” says curator Chris Anderson.
“It’s at the heart of a continent bursting with fresh thinking. We’re delighted to finally be going. This conference will be ambitious, a thrilling new chapter for TED’s growing community of global souls.”
Since 2009, TEDx events - TED-like, independently-run conferences - have taken place in over 50 Brazilian cities including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as other capitals such as Salvador and Brasília, often coverings social and innovation themes.
Details on the sponsorship deals linked to TEDGlobal's Brazilian edition are not yet known, but usual supporters are brands such as IBM, Shell, Rolex, Coca-Cola, Audi and others. Delegates to pay for the tickets, which were sold for $6,000 last year, should not be a problem either - especially if the elitization of the World Cup is anything to go by.
Until now, the most relevant event in Brazil that resembles the TEDGlobal conferences in some aspects is Campus Party. The event started in Spain and takes place annually in São Paulo since 2008 and attracts youngsters from all parts of the country who live in tents pitched at the venue for a week to hear lectures on technology, science, innovation and digital entertainment.
Would TEDGlobal's decision to host its conferences in Rio mean that other heavyweight conferences will follow suit? Maybe South by Southwest? Now that would be really cool.