The circuit, at the foot of Mount Fuji, will formally open with a ceremony on 10 April, with its first race a Super GT Fuji 500km race on 3-4 May.

BBC: Mount Fuji towers over the renovated circuit

Before the residence ceremony, Leach helped open a two-day conference on terrorism hosted by the French Senate.

CNN: Chirac: France owes U.S. a debt

This spectacular European outpost of New York's Guggenheim Museum will open its doors Saturday with a ceremony presided over by the king and queen of Spain and an international A-list of art, social and business world celebrities.

WSJ: New Guggenheim: Art and Architecture as One | By Ada Louise Huxtable

The official arrival ceremony on the South Lawn is open to pre-credentialed press.

WHITEHOUSE: Vice President's Schedule

The Queen declared the London 2012 Paralympics officially open on Wednesday, during a spectacular opening ceremony watched by 80, 000 spectators.

BBC: Claire Cashmore

Given the prevailing economic climate, some think that this year's opening ceremony should consist simply of an open-topped bus, with Colin Firth, J.

WSJ: Social Media

And though he has not held a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently, he plans to open three copies of successful Philadelphia restaurants in Atlantic City in May 2012.

BBC: Philadelphia��s high-end restaurant battle

The ceremony followed a 90-minute open-topped parade from Mansion House during which the two buses crawled through thousands of flag-waving fans as crowds built up in a sun-drenched Trafalgar Square.

BBC: SPORT | Cricket | Ashes 2005 | Fans hail England's Ashes heroes

At a grand opening ceremony Haiti's President Michel Martelly said the country was "open for business".

BBC: Clintons open Haiti industry park

Mr Hartwell said he was open to suggestions for a suitable venue for next year's prize-giving ceremony, but that it would not be a black tie event.

BBC: Folio Prize seeks to make mark on literary landscape