Fencing

Exhibition Centre - Darling Harbour

We saw lots of fencing and like most of the spectators knew very little about this sport but we learnt all about it and found it quite fascinating to watch.

Judo

Exhibition Centre - Darling Harbour

The judo was interesting but with three matches all happening at the same time, it was hard to keep track of it all. Darling Harbour was abuzz for all of the games - huge crowds - everyone in party mode. The free entertainment and big screens showing the Olympic action were certainly a hit with the people.

Rowing

Regatta Centre - Penrith
A magnificent venue for the rowing. A mother duck with heaps of ducklings decided to go swimming right on the finish line but avoided being run over by the rowers. A bevy of photographers went after duck photos and a photo duly appeared in a newspaper showing the duck family with the Olympic rings behind them.

Canoe/Kayak-Slalom

Whitewater Stadium - Penrith

This was all very exciting. We thought it would be impossible to navigate the course without hitting the poles but most of the kayakers managed clean runs. A glorious display of skill and strength.

Shooting

Shooting Centre - Liverpool

Thoroughly enjoyed the shooting in another magnificent venue. We watched the women's double trap and skeet finals as well as some indoor pistol shooting. The skill was amazing. In the skeet, a woman from AZE .... only missed two shots out of 150 to take gold. Again the wildlife was abundant, even on the indoor ranges but I suppose it is a good idea for the shooters to miss the birds and get the targets. There was a trade display. I had a go at a pistol linked to a computer that shot an infra-red ray at a target - couldn't even find the target with my shots let alone a bull's-eye!

Archery

Archery Park - Sydney Olympic Park

We really picked this session well. Australia's Simon Fairweather took the gold medal - the crowd went wild and the spectator stands swayed with the excitement of it all. We got to sing "Advance Australia Fair" as the flag ran up the flagpole as well as "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - oi, oi, oi" and lots of cheering, clapping and foot stomping. And the number of mobile phone calls with people saying: "Guess where we are?!!".....

Tennis

NSW Tennis Centre - Sydney Olympic Park

The tennis was very civilised but not quite as exciting as some of the other sports. However, we got to see the Woodies play on their way to a silver medal.

Hockey

State Hockey Centre - Sydney Olympic Park

The most exciting game was the Hockeyroos winning their semi-final. The game conveniently finished just before Cathy Freeman ran her gold medal 400m final in the Olympic Stadium. Hordes of people left the hockey and headed for a big screen to see this race with volunteers on megaphones saying: "If you leave this venue, you cannot come back in." Those remaining gathered around people with radios to listen to the race and a huge cheer went up as Cathy won. We then settled back to watch New Zealand play ..... "Kiwi Kiwi Kiwi - oi, oi, oi" with waving of Oz & NZ flags - they're pretty much the same anyway.

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball Centre - Bondi Beach

This was the venue with the most excitement as Lifesaver Dan revved up the crowd and was rewarded with much enthusiastic crowd participation. There was the world's biggest beach volleyball fan along with his personal brass band, perfect Mexican waves from the crowd including a Bondi special - a slow crowd wave to "The Blue Danube". And Bondi Beach looked a treat in perfect weather. We saw the Australian women win a semi final against Brazil - they eventually won gold.

Greco-Roman Wrestling

Exhibition Centre - Darling Harbour

This sport was a bit of a mystery which we never solved but there was lots of pushing and shoving.... Getting to Darling Harbour via Dixon Street, Chinatown meant that we had lots of glorious chinese food.

Athletics

Olympic Stadium - Sydney Olympic Park

Olympic Park was magnificent ... We saw Cathy Freeman win the semi final of the 400m final and cheered like everyone else from the hockey when she won gold. I was also quite intrigued by the final of the men's high jump.