'One Young World' Summit A Big Hit In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) --- After a lot of party-time on the Clemente Bridge Thursday night, delegates of the "One Young World Summit" got down to business at the David Lawrence Convention Center on Friday.

Speakers focused on topics like education, food and health, transparency and integrity -- and the role of women in society.

Over lunch, many delegates were buzzing about the venue in Pittsburgh -- after earlier summits in London and Zurich, Switzerland.

28-year-old Alan Mak has attended three summits so far.

"Pittsburgh may be the smallest of the three, but it is certainly the biggest in terms of the heart and the positivity of the welcome.  From the mayor downwards, to the police officers on the road closing the street as we crossed the bridge, Pittsburgh has been a fantastic warm welcoming city, and it's been great to be here," Mak says.

David Ball is the CEO of Brand Fuel, a production company that handles the logistics of coordinating summits like One Young World.

"We have been phenomenally surprised with how fantastic Pittsburgh has been. The real key -- the big difference -- for us has been the Pittsburgher, is that the correct way of saying that?" Ball says.

Whatever you call us, the city of Pittsburgh has been a hit.

When the Pittsburgh summit ends this Sunday, all eyes will turn to Johannesburg, South Africa where the next summit will be held next year.
Chris Yondo will accept the baton at the end of this summit for his native country and is learning from Pittsburgh.

"Since we are hosting in 2013, we are taking lessons from all the events," Yondo says.

While there was serious work and break-out discussions among the 1300 delegates, there was also time for fun. All of Pittsburgh's young people are invited to a pub and gallery crawl Friday night in the Cultural District.

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