to party in the New Year with them and more than 440 guests from around the world.

The lucky person selected will receive a free flight on American Airlines to the Windy City on December 28 and free accommodation at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place until at least January 2 for him or her and a companion.

Chicago Office of Tourism spokesman William Spain yesterday told The Royal Gazette about the project.

"To celebrate the arrival of 2000, the City of Chicago is inviting one person, with a companion of his or her choice, from every nation in the world here as our guests.

"This unique gathering is designed to further an important goal for the coming Millennium: fostering greater knowledge of our world and bettering communication between its many and varied peoples.

"A unique aspect of this undertaking is that we are not inviting celebrities or dignitaries, but ordinary people -- just like the ordinary people who came here from all over the world and built an extraordinary city.'' All guests must be over 21 and should have never been to Chicago before.

The ideal guest list will consist of non-VIPs from a wide variety of backgrounds. An online suggestion form is available at the event's Website www.chicago2001.org/world.

Amongst those on the guest list already, continued Mr. Spain, are a mechanic from Guatemala, a bird trainer from Vietnam, a musician from South Korea, a teacher from Bangladesh, a secretary from Haiti, a prison chaplain from Cote D'Ivoire, a farmer from Slovenia, and a relief worker from Liberia.

The highlight of the five-day event will be the International Millennium Dinner which will be hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

This will be held on December 31 at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center and will bring the international guests together with a representative cross-section of Chicago's diverse population.

BUSINESS BUC