Welcome to the Glass Age

19 Figure 1.6. Showing the distribution of expressions of interest from various types of Institution. Source: IYOG endorsers database. Figure 1.7. Showing the distribution of expressions of interest from different continents. Source: IYOG endorsers database. New partners are still welcome, particularly from the more under-represented areas such as Africa, and the Middle East. To join our circulation list email: manager@iyog2022.org and visit our web site (www.iyog2022.org) . Coming to fruition The UN submission was far from smooth because of frequent false starts caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and also by the sensitive nature of the politics behind such submissions. Dates anticipated for a formal submission came and went with no action because important international meetings were delayed or not everyone was yet agreed on the details of the submission. Eventually a draft Resolution outlining our ambitions was negotiated and accepted by the Missions of several UN countries during April 2021. It successfully passed a silent process of approval on 11 th May —no one had objected. The formal resolution was agreed at the United Nations General Assembly on May 18 th , 2021 during a meeting that took place on-line; several committee members sat glued to their seats during the proceedings and their response to the vote echoed around the world. Heartfelt thanks go especially to the Spanish Mission at the UN, particularly the Spanish ambassador Agustín Santos Maraver and Ana Alonso Giganto, who led this process through the difficult twists and turns of diplomacy in stressful times. We are also grateful to the 19 countries that lent their support as Co-Sponsors by formally endorsing the UN resolution. Supporting growth: running an IYOG From the start was a realization that such celebrations could not be organized solely by one committee;