A Glimpse of What 2014 Has in Store
After a year full of meteors, 3D printing and Papal elections, 2014 certainly has a lot to live up to. As we start to approach the New Year, let’s take a look at some of the biggest events due to take place over the next 12 months.
Political Union
Fresh into the New Year, Latvia will become the 18th member of the Eurozone. Having initially planned to join the monetary union in 2008, the country’s application experienced a number of delays before finally being approved this year. Although the move is opposed by some members of the country’s population, supporters hope it will simplify travel and tourism between Latvia and other European countries.
Skyscrapers
Sky City, set to take over from the Burj al-Arab in Dubai as the world’s tallest skyscraper, is due for completion in Changsha, in China’s Hunan province. The building will include a large hotel, set to offer fantastic views of the surrounding areas, as well as dozens of shops, sports facilities, a hospital and thousands of new homes.
However, engineers have expressed scepticism regarding developer Broad Sustainable Building’s claims that they will be able to construct the skyscraper in as little as 90 days, while also noting that the rather ambitious design might not be the most practical.
Sports
Sports fans will be more than well-catered for in 2014, with an exciting range of elite events taking place throughout the year. The fun starts in February, when the Russian town of Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Having attracted criticism and controversy surrounding both human rights and planning issues, the world is holding its breath in anticipation of the Games.
Summer, on the other hand, will bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games, this time hosted by Glasgow. The event will see teams from 70 nations compete over 11 days, making it the largest multi-sport event ever to be hosted in Scotland. It’s hoped the Games will help boost the city’s economy and improve its image domestically and internationally.
Independence
In September, Scotland will head to the polls to vote on independence from the UK. Scottish leader Alex Salmond has vowed to retain the Queen as head of state, but other contentious issues include the potential new nation’s currency, membership of the European Union and the future of North Sea oil reserves. Should the Scots vote Yes, SNP officials hope that Scotland will become an independent country on the 24th of March 2016.
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Image: mariusz kluzniak