The celebration was of great symbolic importance, and was held on the Arteplage Neuchâtel (SUI) with about 2’200 invited guests and was transferred by SRG SSR idée suisse on the first three national TV-channels. The live broadcasts (SF1, TSR1, TSI1) were watched by 400'000 spectators. This corresponds to a market share of 44.2% of the German, 32.8% of the French and 18.4% of the Italian speaking Swiss.

The ceremony was held on 14.05.2002 from 16:30 to 17:30 at the Patinoire du Littoral. There were held four speeches:

> Kaspar Villiger, president of the Confederation of Switzerland
> Francis Matthey, president of the General Assembly of Expo.02
> Franz Steinegger, president of the steering committee of Expo.02
> Nelly Wenger, president of the Directorate General of Expo.02

> Total guests: 2’200 

Myriam Neuhaus was working for Expo.02 as Press Officer at the directorate events. She was taking care of the German and Italian speaking medias.
Ralph Ammann was Head of Events Arteplage Neuchâtel and, until 2001, Manager of Logistics for the directorate events during the preparation phase of Expo.02.