Australia, Sydney, Olympics 2000

Sydney 2000 Olympics

   "The most important thing in the Olympic Games
    is not to win but to take part,
   Just as the most important thing in life
   is not the triumph but the struggle.

   The essential thing is not to have conquered
   but to have fought well."

       - The Olympic Creed Welcome to the Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, September 15-October 1, 2000.
The Paralympic Games, October 18 - October 29, 2000.

The torch was lit in Greece on Wednesday 10 May 2000 and made its 128 day journey to Sydney, making it the longest torch relay in the history of the Games. It travelled through 14 countries before finally arriving in Australia on 8 June.

Its 100 day journey through Australia involved 11,000 torch bearers, through all states of Australia.

The Sydney Olympic Games lasted for 16 days, involved over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries, competing in 28 different sports.

All medal winners were presented with bouquets of Australian native flowers. Unfortunately wattle was not included because of its effect on allergy sufferers. The bouquets included waratah, flannel flowers, wax flowers, red and yellow grevillea, kangaroo paw and eucalyptus leaves.

It is the second time that Australia has hosted the Games. Melbourne, Victoria, was host in 1956. Australia has had a long history with the Olympics. It has taken part in every games of the Modern Olympics since 1896 at Athens, only one of four countries to do so, the others being Greece, Switzerland and Great Britain.