With just over two years to go to the big event, the Millennium Commission has unveiled a symbol to mark the year 2000.

The logo, based on the letter 'M', is intended to be displayed at thousands of sites across the country. The Commission also unveiled a Web site and a map of Britain showing sites of Millennium projects round the country.

The high profile launch of these initiatives follows criticism that a disproportionate amount of the Commission's money is being channelled towards London and the southeast of England - particularly the �750m Greenwich Dome.

Eric Sorensen

The chief executive of the Millennium Commission, Eric Sorensen, denied the accusations, saying most Millennium projects are outside London. He added that the majority of Commission money was going not towards the Dome but to the other projects "in total".

Eric Sorensen (17")

He said that criticism was inevitable given the scale and expense of the Dome, but the building would provide an important focal point and inspiration for the celebrations in two years' time.

In an embarrassing incident at the launch, the Millennium Dome was missing from the Millennium map when it was displayed on the Millennium Web site. However, the Commission said this was due to an administrative oversight.

The 'Big M'

The new logo, which cost �25,000 to produce, depicts a blue 'M' above an orange crescent said to represent Britain's new dawn. The motto is "In the Spirit of the Future".

The logo is aimed at projecting a fresh identity that will help dispel the confusion in the public's mind about what the Millenium Commission stands for.

At the launch of the emblem, which is already being nicknamed the 'Big M', there were mischievous suggestions that the 'M' stood for Mandelson. Officials said it was very definitely 'M' for Millennium. However, the Minister Without Portfolio, who is in charge of the Millenium Dome project in London, was consulted.

One leading brand consultant was not overly impressed with the design. Terry Tyrrell, of Sampson Tyrrell Design Consultants, said the choice was a missed opportunity: "I might have suggested something that had more passion in it. Something that was expressing not the word 'millennium', but what it stood for."

The logo will be on display at 3,000 Millennium projects across the country which have received �2bn in lottery money.

Ironically, the Millennium Dome may be one venue where the new emblem is not seen. Organisers of the centrepiece of the celebrations are drawing up their own logo and it is not clear whether it will incorporate the 'M' symbol.
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