April 2000 - Nr. 4
The Countdown Has Started
70 Days To Opening Day
For EXPO 2000 Hannover
Toronto - The national pavilions are taking shape, international artists have signed their performance contracts, and the 430 different trees from around the world have by now firmly established their roots along the EXPO 2000 Avenue of the United Trees. In 70 days the gates will open to Germany¹s first ever Class One World Exposition, taking place in Hanover, starting June 1. Worlds will meet under the umbrella of the EXPO 2000 theme, Humankind-Nature-Technology, promising demonstrations of world-class creativity and ongoing fun and dazzling entertainment for 153 days.
A definite hot spot every night for socializing and dancing around the world will be EXPO-Disko, a 2,300-square-metre octagonal discotheque for up to 4000 people. In addition to two dance floors and several bars on two levels, the dance hall sports a special 3-D projection system that creates ever changing environments for the dancers, who may find themselves discoing amid glistening icebergs at one time and doing the merengue on a sun-baked beach in the Caribbean islands a few minutes later.
More Facts and Figures
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Dates: 1 June - 31 October 2000, 153 days
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Hours: 9 a.m. - midnight, June through August 9 a.m. - 11 p.m., September through October
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Events: 18,000; more than 100 every day
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Participants: close to 200 countries and international organizations
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People: 23,000 staff and up to 400,000 visitors per day (40 million visitors expected in total)
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Site Size: 1.7 million square metres
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Entrances: 6 main gates with 68 ticket booths, 139 turnstiles and 20 moveable electronic swipe units, allowing access to up to 84,000 visitors in one hour
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Transportation: 20 minutes from Hannover-Langenhagen airport to EXPO 2000 by S-Bahn commuter trains, designed to carry 1500 passengers each, scheduled to run every 15 minutes; 1900 excursion busses per day from all corners of Germany and Europe, especially from towns without convenient train connections to EXPO 2000
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Parking: 25,000 newly created parking spots near the EXPO site, plus 35,000 Park Œn¹ Ride spots in the greater Hanover area
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Traffic Control: observation and direction by video cameras surveying an area of up to 100 kilometres surrounding EXPO 2000 and with 250 extra cameras on site
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Provisions: 1500 tons daily, including close to 400 tons of food, close to 600 tons of beverages and 100 tons of garbage, transported in up to 800 trucks and service vehicles per 24-hour period
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Beer: 8 million litres expected to be consumed during EXPO, including a variety of German beers - light and dark lager, ale, pilsner and wheat beer as well as alcohol-free beer - and such international brands as Corona Extra and Fosters
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How To Get There: by high-speed ICE train: approx. 90 minutes from Berlin, approx. 75 from Hamburg by car: approx. 3 hrs from Berlin, approx. 2 hrs from Hamburg
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Where to buy tickets: in Canada, Avila Tours, Edmonton; via Internet, <www.expo2000.de>; by phone hotline, dialling direct from Canada: 011 49 2000; in Germany, at the EXPO 2000 gate
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Ticket prices: per day from DM 39 (approx. $30) for children, weekdays, to DM 79 (approx. $60) for adults on weekends
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Package Tours including EXPO Visits: Avila Tours (Edmonton), Allegro Tours, Globus Tours, Exclusive Tours (all of Toronto); individual bookings through travel agents across Canada
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Land-Only Packages for Individuals: 3- and 4-day city packages, including EXPO 2000 admission and accommodation in private-home B & Bs, holiday apartments or hotels, from $262 per person, double occupancy
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Website: www.expo2000.de
For more information on Germany, please contact the German National Tourist Office at 175 Bloor Street East, North Tower, Suite 604, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R8, call (416) 968-1570 or address your e-mail to germanto@idirect.com and check GNTO’s web site at www.germany-tourism.de
