COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: Well, Germany will open its doors to the world in about 30 minutes for the beginning of Expo 2000 in Hanover. The event will offer exhibits from more than 170 countries. Officials are hoping to attract about 40 million visitors, but they're also hoping to avoid what could be the biggest traffic jams Hanover's ever seen. CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney reports.</s>FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Visitors to Expo 2000 should have no trouble finding their way to the sprawling site that spans an area almost as big as the Mediterranean principality of Monaco. There are helpful street signs, helpful maps, buses, trains and even trams all ready to take visitors to Germany's first world fair. But thousands of car lovers are also expected to drive to the exhibition and park in the north German town. Organizers are expecting about 45,000 cars a day, but only 25,000 vehicles are going to be allowed to park at the exhibition site. The rest will be directed to parking lots like these situated around the town. It seems like the ideal solution, but not all Hanover's residents are convinced.</s>VERONIKA SCHASNY, HANOVER RESIDENT (through translator): There will be chaos, not just on the roads, but also with the trains. I have the impression it will not work. What you should do is rent out your apartment and leave the city.</s>SWEENEY: Officials, of course, are more optimistic.</s>FRANK WEBER, TRAFFIC ORGANIZER (through translator): We don't expect traffic chaos because the plan is to only allow 25,000 cars a day to the expo site.</s>SWEENEY: And he may be right. Public interest in the event so far has been luke warm. Just three million tickets have been sold, and organizers fear huge losses. The exhibition, however, is already attracting a certain number of VIPs. A gala evening last night was attended by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Princess Caroline of Monaco, whose husband is Prince Ernst August (ph) of Hanover. Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN.
Hanover Hopes To Avoid Traffic Jams For Expo 2000 Visitors