Sydney
2000 Torch Relay
8th
June-15th September
This was an inspiration that did much to include all
Australians in the Olympics. The flame landed at Uluru (of great
Aboriginal significance) and the first runner was Nova Peris-Kneebone
(an Aborigine who won gold in Atlanta as part of the Hockeyroos
- Australian women's hockey team). The torch then went on an amazing
journey for 100 days, passed through 1000 communities and included
11,000 torch bearers as well as the same number of schoolchildren
who ran with the torchbearers. In every town there were celebrations
where the community cauldron was lit. People turned out in droves
to cheer the torch and these pictures were on the news every night
and newspapers ran a special segment on the towns and torchbearers
every day. The torch travelled by every conceivable means of transport
and has seen much more of Australia than most Australians. The
organisation was phenomenal. The torch committee liased with all
of the local communities so that each town organised the local
entertainment.
Frederickton
& Kempsey
Friday,
August 25th, 2000
Passing on the flame at Frederickton. Torch logo
on an escort van. Didgeridoo welcome at Kempsey.
Cleansing the torch with smoke. Kempsey's community
cauldron. An Olympic flag.
The Torch. Proud past Olympian - Joe Donovan. Beaming
Torchbearers.
The crackers. Torchbearer signing autographs for
the kids. Happiness around the torch.
See more of Kempsey Torch
Sydney
Opera House
Thursday,
14th September, 2000
And finally I saw the torch arrive at the Sydney Opera
House. As Olivia handed the torch to Pat, the Olympic Rings on
the bridge lit up and crackers burst forth from the pylons. Then
I went to the ANDREA BOCELLI "Olympic
Torch Gala" at the Sydney Opera House.
From the steps of the Opera House
August,
00
Places,
Events & Things Index