FOREWORD

Many of today's world's cities are expanding in an extremely rapid and anarchic manner, with little concern for public services, public infrastructure and public space. These problems are particularly acute in the cities of the developing world where the ever widening gulf between rich and poor is often symbolized by the development of exclusive gated communities on the one hand, and run-down neighborhoods or slums on the other. In many cases, urban design processes are still based on colonial era planning laws, which encourage spatial segregation and fail to reflect the needs and priorities of urban residents in an inclusive manner.
Urban space has remained throughout history a strong symbol

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INTRODUCTION

The World Olympiad for Urban Design (WOUD 2010) based on the protocol signed on April 20, 2004 is due to be organized by the International Art & Architecture Research Association (IAARA) with UN-HABITAT as the supreme manager.
The objective of this event is to enhance the urban space quality of all the cities in the world. This event will focus on sustainability and it will be held every 4 years in one of the member countries of UN-HABITAT.
Based on preliminary discussions, the city of Oxford is the favorite to be the host of the 1st World Urban Olympiad for Urban Design
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT and Under Secretary General of UN

and means of expression of power, wealth, belief and identity. The good governance of urban space is at the crossroad of the major social challenges of our time, and it is the ethical responsibility of our political leaders and of urban planners and designers to help make our cities socially inclusive, environmentally sound, economically vibrant, culturally meaningful, and safe for all.
As the leading United Nations Agency in the urban sector, UN-HABITAT is pleased to support this initiative and hope that it will contribute to revitalize the global debate on the role of urban planning and urban design in the new context of globalization, rapid urbanization and climate change.
I wish the International Art & Architecture Research Association full success in organizing the first World Olympiad for Urban Design.

Dr. Anna Tibaijuka
Executive Director of UN-HABITAT
Under Secretary General of United Nations