Organisers on Monday presented an ambitious cultural programme for the national exhibition in 2001, saying Expo.01 will become "Switzerland’s cultural capital."

Organisers on Monday presented an ambitious cultural programme for the national exhibition in 2001, saying Expo.01 will become "Switzerland’s cultural capital."

Daniel Rosselat -- organiser of the famous Paléo music festival in the Swiss lakeside town of Nyon – told a news conference in Zurich that a total of 5,000 events on 12 stages and other venues were envisaged.

A number of special events were also planned, for instance the opening ceremony on May 3 and the closing ceremony on October 29.

An artistic concept would now be worked out and should essentially be completed by April 2000, he said. From May 2000, production proper would begin.

Theater, music, circus, dance, and multi-media performances would all be part of this massive project, Rosselat said.

He added that he would for instance like to see a multi-media performance by Dieter Meier of the Swiss rock group Yello, and performances by the Swiss-American mime group Mummenschanz.

Organisers said that sponsoring contracts should cover about one third of the costs, and that the rest would be financed by ticket sales and government subsidies.

Rosselat said he expected about 22 million visitors to attend the Expo.01 exhibition.

The project has been the source of heated public debate in recent months after the head of the project was sacked amid allegations of mismanagement, and an interim-director was appointed.

An independent commission is now assessing the financial planning of the Expo.01 project and is to present its findings in the coming weeks.

Swiss industry and business, which is seen as the financial backbone of the exhibition, has been critical of the previous management and has been cautious with financial pledges.

While major industries have not said "no" outright, they have demanded a clear financial and artistic concept before committing more money to the project.

The government has expressed its public support for the exhibition in order to boost public trust but has essentially called on Swiss business to carry the main financial burden for Expo.01.

From staff and wire reports.

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