...
says Germany to Expo 2000, which closed in Hanover on October 31,
2000 with a billion-dollar-worth losses.
Date: 11/01/2000
A five-month-long run of Expo'2000 has finished. From now on, the
EXPO 2000 Hannover GmbH is engaged exclusively with the dismantling
and winding up of the World
Exposition.
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According to the reports of the leading German news magazines, Expo'2000
has proved to be a real success in "showing a new and friendly
Germany", and "turning strangers into friends".
The World Exposition ended with terrific fireworks, Parade of the
Nations, numerous jolly parties, pop-, rock- and rave-performances,
and overall joy and happiness.
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On the other hand, according to the reports of American mass media,
EXPO'2000 has resulted in more than a billion dollar losses, which
has outraged the taxpayers and caused the nagging of the world media.
CNN reports, that the actual number of visitors appeared to be twice
less than the foretold 40 million. In fact, only about 18 million
people visited the Exposition from June, 1 till October, 31. It
makes EXPO'2000 one of the most poorly attended world fairs. Only
the world fair in Lisbon had an even smaller number of visitors
- 10 million. Announced as the biggest and best world fair ever,
EXPO turned into a financial disaster. Total losses are estimated
at $1.04 billion.
There is one comforting
fact though. The queues to the Exposition pavilions were longer
than those to the Reichstag - German Parliament building - the top
attraction of Berlin.
As if making an
excuse, German government tried to explain that EXPO had never been
intended to make a profit, its main point being the portraying of
the modern Nazi-free Germany. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
also confirmed this statement, saying that the value of the World
Exposition in Hanover should not and could not be measured in money.
