IOC 2020 - 9th International Orthodontic Congress

The WFO Executive Committee has selected the Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) to host the 9th International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) in 2020. Dr. Roberto Justus, president of the WFO, announced the news May 6 at the annual breakfast reception for WFO affiliate organization presidents, which was held in conjunction with the 2012 Annual Session of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
The JOS will hold the 9th IOC Oct. 4-7, 2020, at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Complex in Yokohama, Japan. Yokohama, a port city, is conveniently located 30 minutes from metropolitan Tokyo and is accessible from two international airports. The convention complex is the largest one in Japan.
“The members of the WFO Executive Committee were pleased to announce this decision during the AAO’s Annual Session,” Dr. Justus said. “The committee is looking forward to working with the JOS in the coming years. The IOC is an excellent opportunity for the world of orthodontics to come together, to celebrate achievements, and to consider new ideas. The value of the IOC is immense.”
The JOS, meanwhile, is ready to bring the world of orthodontics to Japan.
The Pacifico Yokohama Convention Complex in Yokohama, Japan, will be the site of the 9th International Orthodontic Congress in 2020. The convention complex’s unique shape represents the theme of “Waves, Wind and Sunlight.” “The Japanese Orthodontic Society believes that holding the 9th IOC in Japan will be a great opportunity for all orthodontists to share the research findings and treatment practices that the Japanese orthodontic community has accumulated over the years, while deepening ties between orthodontics and other related domains worldwide so that our area of specialization can further develop as an important pillar of health science,” said Dr. Keiji Moriyama, chair of the 9th IOC organizing committee and managing director of the JOS. “We also believe that gathering orthodontists and dental care professionals from around the world, who will bring with them their expertise, experience and wisdom, will be of particular significance in expanding and supporting the need for orthodontic care that is rapidly growing throughout the world, particularly in Asia.
“We hope that the 9th IOC will provide participants the opportunity to discover and appreciate Japanese culture, tradition and natural beauty. I would like to impress upon you that the Japanese orthodontic and dental community, the Japanese government, the city of Yokohama and other parties concerned are solidly united in our determination to welcome Congress participants and their guests in the best possible manner.”
In all, the WFO Executive Committee received seven bids from WFO affiliate organizations. The cities of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Amman, Jordan; Beijing, China; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rome, Italy; and Seoul, South Korea, in addition to Yokohama, were all under consideration as possible sites for the IOC.
"We received seven bids to host the 2020 International Orthodontic Congress,” Dr. Justus said. “The WFO Executive Committee carefully evaluated all of the bids and wishes to express its appreciation to all the bidders. In our minds, they are all winners."