January 1, 2000
Web posted at: 1:04 p.m. EST (1804 GMT)

GREENWICH, England (CNN) -- Just hours after Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other dignitaries celebrated the New Year under its sprawling roof, the Greenwich Millennium Dome is officially open to the public for the first time.

The Dome, the world's largest, contains 14 themed "zones" exploring the human experience. Their titles include "Faith," "Body," "Mind," "Money" and "Shared Ground." The Dome and those exhibition areas opened to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (GMT). Officials expect more than 12 million guests during the year.

The 20-acre structure is covered with a translucent roof supported by exterior poles that jut out like antennae. The Dome's cost -- US $1.25 billion, financed by National Lottery money -- and its planned one-year life span have raised controversy. But officials say more than a million tickets have been sold so far. Ticket prices range from 16.50 to 20 pounds sterling ($26-32).

The Dome's central attraction, "The Millennium Show," has its debut Saturday. A circus-like aerial and acrobatic performance features music of Peter Gabriel and choreography by Mark Fischer, noted for his work with Tina Turner, Janet Jackson and other performers. The show, which is staged in a central area the size of Trafalgar Square, tells the story of lovers driven apart by a family feud. Each show features a cast of 61 people.

Greenwich, a borough of Greater London, is significant because the zero-degree longitude "prime meridian" that passes through the town is used as the basis for standard time in much of the world.

Technology specialists considered 12 a.m. GMT on Saturday a crucial moment because many computers, including the world's air traffic control systems, are set to universal time.

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