What Happened in 1999?

For us, the establishment of Customer Champions was the most significant event of 1999. But what else happened? We’ve taken a look back and put together a brief guide to some of the momentous (and not-so-momentous) events and happenings of the year. We hope you’ll find it interesting. We also hope you’ll pick up some interesting facts that will be useful next time you find yourself taking part in a quiz!

Politics

The first phase of the introduction of the Euro took place on 1 January 1999, when traveller’s cheques, electronic transfers, banking transfers and other non-physical monetary transactions moved to the European currency. Coins and notes became valid on 1 January 2002. The first purchase? A kilogram of lychees on the French-owned Réunion island.

Still in Europe, Scotland elected its own parliament for the first time since 1707. The construction of the Scottish Parliament Building began in 1999 too, although it didn’t open until 2004. (Although it’s recognised as a modern architectural icon, it’s perhaps more usually remembered for the massive construction costs that were around ten times higher than the original estimate.) While construction took place, the parliament’s home was the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Two leaders who feature prominently on the world stage were elected in 1999. Hugo Chávez was elected president of Venezuala and remains so to this day. Thabo Mbeki was elected president of South Africa in 1999 and stayed in office until he resigned last year.

There were significant happenings within NATO too, since 1999 marked its fiftieth year in existence. The organisation’s first Secretary General, Lord Ismay, memorably described its goal as “to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down”. The huge changes in the political landscape since that comment were reflected in 1999 when three former communist countries, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland joined.

Arts and culture

The Woodstock Festival that’s passed into legend took place in New York in summer 1969. The festival’s thirtieth anniversary was celebrated in New York in summer 1999. Stars of Woodstock 1999 included Britney Spears, Fat Boy Slim, Jamiroquai and Snoop Dogg. Apparently, there are plans to celebrate the fortieth anniversary this summer with another festival.

At the cinema, Shakespeare in Love was one of the biggest hits of the year. The film’s success was reflected at the Oscars, where it scooped seven awards (including Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow whose tearful acceptance speech is probably more widely remembered than her performance in the film.)

Technology

In 1999, concerns about what would happen to the world’s computers as we entered the new millennium reached their peak. The effects of the millennium bug (or Y2K as it became known) had many people forecasting doom and the collapse of civilisation as we knew it. Of course, the last stroke of midnight on 31 December proved the fears to be totally unfounded...

While we may remember the perceived threat, how many of us remember the actual threat? Melissa was a worm that first attacked the internet on 26 March. It shut down internet mail systems that got clogged with infected emails sent as a result of the virus and caused chaos.

Apple released one of its iconic product in 1999: the first iBook. Much of the excitement around Apple products at the time was to do with the company’s use of colour. The iBook was no exception: it was available in two colours, tangerine and blueberry.

Sport

1999 was the last year the Rugby Union Five Nations Championship took place. (It became the Six Nations in 2000 when Italy joined the competition.) The last winner? Scotland.

In football, Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League in Barcelona, beating Bayern Munich 2:1. Football fans may remember United’s two infamous goals which both came in injury time at the end of the game.

Events

A total eclipse of the sun was visible from western parts of England on 11 August 1999. To give you an idea of the rarity of such an event, the next one is scheduled for 2090, when Customer Champions will be celebrating its 91st anniversary...

International Men’s Day was inaugurated on 19 November and was first celebrated by the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Why?  Because the day was conceived and coordinated by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from the University of West Indies at the Families in Action headquarters in Newtown, Port of Spain, the country’s capital.

And finally ...

The first manned hot air balloon flight was made in Paris on 21 November 1783 by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes. Two hundred and sixteen years later, in 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones completed the first uninterrupted circumnavigation of the Earth in a hot air balloon.

Whichever way you look at, there’s no doubt that 1999 was an important year. So, as Prince said, let’s “party like it’s 1999”. (Although he actually said it in 1982, which was when his 1999 album was released.)