Suddenly, the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games seem just around the
corner. With less than a year to go before the Games begin, preparations are
running to plan, contractors have completed facilities ahead of schedule and
test events are under way.
Stadium Australia, the main Games venue, opened last year with an
entertainment extravaganza and a soccer spectacular. Sydney’s distinctive
Olympic torch – drawing inspiration from the Sydney Opera House, the blue
waters of the Pacific Ocean and the graceful curve of the boomerang – has
been admired by thousands.
The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) has long since
switched to countdown mode – officially called “Games-time structure”. SOCOG
will be operationally ready well before 12 May, when the Olympic Torch
begins its journey from Greece.
Following the traditional flame-lighting ceremony, the Torch Relay will head
through 13 Oceania countries before arriving in Australia at Uluru on 8 June
2000. The Torch will then make a 100-day, 27,000-kilometre, round-Australia
journey to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on 15 September.
The flame will travel on a surf boat at Sydney’s
celebrated Bondi
Beach, on the Indian Pacific train across the Nullarbor Plain, on a Royal Flying
Doctor Service aircraft in the remote Outback and by camel on Cable Beach at
Broome. It will be carried on horseback, on a Sydney Harbour ferry, on the
Sky Rail at Cairns, on charter planes when travelling between remote areas,
and underwater on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Torch Relay has given Australians the chance to recognise heroes and
quiet achievers within their communities by nominating people for selection
as Community Torchbearers. During the Torch’s journey, some 188 communities
will stage uniquely Australian celebrations – festivities you can share and
enjoy.
The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games run until 1 October, followed by the
Paralympic Games from 18 to 29 October.
Well before the Games begin, a direct rail link will run from Sydney Airport
to central Sydney and Olympic Park Railway Station, an impressive,
purpose-built facility capable of handling 50,000 people an hour. Up to
250,000 spectators are expected to visit Sydney during the two weeks of the
Games, utilising the Residential Accommodation Program (rented houses and
lodging with Sydney families) or staying in hotels, motels, colleges,
recreation centres, backpacker lodges or cruise ships. Demand for
accommodation will be high, but this won’t affect destinations elsewhere in
Australia. For the other 11 months of this year, there will be plenty of
room.
