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1/26/18

Switzerland: The 2018 Davos Awards – by Fabrice Coffrini

The World Economic Forum’s annual Alpine bash came to an end Friday with a gaffe-free speech from Donald Trump. Elsewhere there was plenty going on, but some things deserve special recognition.

They’re universally known as the Un-Crystal Awards. PwC counted the ballots. (Not really, on both counts.) Envelopes, please, for the inaugural Davos Awards …
  
POLITICAL AWARD: Easy one: Emmanuel Macron. Even Donald Trump loves him best of all. Sorry, Theresa. He’s now talked about as the leader of Europe. Sorry, Angela. The Frenchman’s star power kept a full room enraptured through a mostly tedious speech on Wednesday.

INCLUSION AWARD: The Intercontinental Davos for its 17 Swiss franc bottled water.

BUDGET AWARD: The Belvédère for using the cheapest supermarket hand soap in its bathrooms.

PARENTING AWARD: WEF supremo Klaus Schwab; he not only got Trump to the table but kept him from flipping it.

PRODUCT PLACEMENT AWARD: The sign that advertised both the “Life in a Day of a Refugee” exhibition and the drop-off zone for limousines.

ALSO-RAN BOOBY PRIZE: The Macron of 2016, Justin Trudeau, made a splashy trade announcement — but the Davosites are a fickle bunch and have moved on from the Canadian with the wavy hair.

GHOST OF DAVOS PAST CITATION: Angela Merkel felt like yesterday’s pol, soon set to join the parade of other grand has-beens who make the pilgrimage here (John Kerry, Al Gore, David Cameron, Tony Blair).

DESIGN AWARD: All the white tents and temporary buildings that became invisible in Monday’s snow-in.

PARTICIPATION AWARD: Europe for sending nearly all its national leaders, while saving the Forum from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

POLITICAL LOST OPPORTUNITY AWARD: Narendra Modi. India wanted to make this Davos about itself and put its one-time star on the main stage. No one notice

INVISIBILITY CLOAK AWARD: Russia. Contributed nothing to any conversation.

SPECIAL PRIZE: Trump accomplished everything he set out for himself.

HEALTHY HEART AWARD: Joint winner: Swiss authorities for allowing private cars to cause so much traffic gridlock that walking was often the only sensible option; and the WEF for never having enough seats for participants to pass the time on.

SKIING AWARD: David Cameron, who injured just one of his associates on the slopes.

Read more:The 2018 Davos Awards – POLITICO

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