Each seat in the stadium held a gift for the attendees. A small yellow "Globite" school case which contained a program for the night's entertainment, a pair of yellow socks, a wrist band - containing red flashing lights, and a small torch. These items were the 'props' the audience would use at appropriate times during the Opening Ceremony to add some special touches to the proceding. Thousands of volunteers lined the aisles, and helped the audience get "into the swing" of things.

As the final countdown flashed on the large screens the sound of 110,000 voices started to rise, reaching a crescendo in the last seconds, and an Aussie icon burst into the enormous arena. A 'bushman' and his horse gallop to the centre of the 4-acres. The horse - representing the important role they have played in the recent history of Australia, from pioneering days to the 'race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup' - rears twice, the rider cracks his whip, and so the evening started.  They are joined by 120 mounted Australian horsemen and women, from the Australian Stock Horse Association, each carrying a black and white symbolic Olympic flag. The stirring strains of the theme from the hit movie "The Man from Snowy River" accompanied the galloping hooves. They charge down the length of the arena in lines, breaking off to form a single line around the whole arena, as a gigantic flag unfolds, and greets the world with a traditional Aussie welcome - "G'day!"

Forming up into a cavalcade the horses proceed to march down the centre of the arena, and start to break off, to form the five circles to represent the Olympic rings they form patterns that changed and moved, executing the largest choreographed display involving animals.
 

Left & Above:From the largest quadrille ever performed the riders break off and form the internationally recognised symbol of the Games - the five rings. Below: The internationally recognised greeting of Australia welcoming everyone to the 27th Olympiad - Sydney 2000.

As they moved to ring the arena again the distinctive trumpet of Australia's leading jazz musician, James Morrison rang out, with the backing of the big band, Swing City. They introduced the official party to the arena (IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, accompanied  by Australian legend, Dawn Fraser, and Governor General Sir William Dean and his wife, Lady Dean) with an upbeat version of "Waltzing Matilda". Human Nature, singing acapella, followed with the first verse of Australia's national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair", and Julie Anthony led the second verse, followed with a repeat of the first, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
 

Left: Julie Anthony (top) with 'Human Nature', the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and 'Swing City' deliver the Australian National anthem 'Advance Autralia Fair' whilst (above) the 120 horsemen and women ring the arena with Australian flags.

The riders, now carrying an Australian flag each, left the arena the same way they arrived, at speed! What followed next is probably best left for the pictures to describe, although they will not do it justice. It was a sequence of scenes, each depicting a passage of Australia's development, from the oceans, the land and it's people, to the arrival of European settlers and the future...

"Deep Sea Dreaming"

We join Nikki, a 13 year old Australian girl, representing the 'young' spirit of Australia, as she comes out to 'spend a day at the beach' (a favourite Aussie past time). She falls asleep and enters a dreamworld - one that takes us on the journey from the beginning of Australia to today. The opening sequence is 'underwater' and one of the most popular of the ceremony, "Deep Sea Dreaming". The huge bowl of Stadium Australia becomes a three-dimensional stage, with as much happening above the ground as on it. Shooting upwards, Nikki finds herself 'swimming' 45 metres above the 'seabed' in what has become a 'playground for the creatures of the deep.'  Jellyfish, weedy sea dragon, a moray eel, amazing spanish dancers, lion fish, nudibranchs, lionfish and other sea creatures abound around her whilst the 'sea bed' is alive with more. Deep sea divers and a 'fish hook' complete with bait signify man's intrusion into the sea. Schools of tiny fish scurry around the depths, whilst Nikki takes it all in, and is in awe. Australia's well-known swim coach, Laurie Lawrence features, encouraging a band of young 'swimmers' to do well as they too 'swim' across the stadium.   The huge stadium becomes a 'fishbowl' as young Nikki finds herself 'swimming' amongst huge sea creatures.

"Awakenings" Aboriginal dancer and songman Djakapurra Munyarryun represents the 'ancient' spirit of this ancient land. Nikki approaches him and he acts as her guide, taking her on a journey of discovery of Australia's history, as the beat of sticks and song awakens the ancient past and the spirits within. Nikki is now a part of the land, and the ancient culture is now hers too - to share and understand the origins of where it all came from. Nikki lands again, in the middle of a representation of ancient Australia - a continent with a culture over 40,000 years in the making, and over 600 indigineous nations. Members of over 250 groups come forward and call to the dreamtime spirits - calling visitors to listen for the sounds of the earth. What follows is something that has never happened before. Members of different ancient nations from all over Australia come together and present their contributions to the journey. Starting with over 300 women from central Australia, dancing "The 7 Sisters", they embrace the past for the young aboriginals of today. They prepare a welcome for the 'rebirthing' so we can all be as one mob - the youth of today and the ancient culture of years gone by. The "Flag Song" is performed by peoples from Arnhem land - who started trading with people from Asia over 4,000 years ago. The "Rhythm Dance" is performed next, by Torres Strait Islanders, which celebrates the energy from northern Queensland, and then the "Dungdung" (red kangaroo - as it represents the sound made by the big boomer as it leaps across the land). This is performed last and welcomes the members of western New South Wales nations, last onto the site as the host nation, creating unity for the ancient culture and modern youth of today. With all the representatives now gathered, the Smoking Ceremony is commenced - to cleanse the air of all ailments and negativity, to cleanse this meeting place, Stadium Australia, in preparation for rejoicment. Once the cleansing has happened all the spirits are awakened, called by songman, Djakapurra. From the Western Australian region come the long legged spirits, who celebrate with all.  When the people are one they call upon the spirit of creation - to awaken the spirit to lead them into a future. The great spirit comes from the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia - one of the oldest lands on earth. It slowly rises, with eyes and nose, but no mouth, with which to pass judgement. An explosion signals the rebirth has started - and the land needs to prepare for new life. So starts the next section -

"Fire!" The spirit rises and watches. For tens of thousands of years the Aborigines have used fire in the Australian bush to clear it of excess, unwanted growth. Now, most Australian summers are marred by bushfires for different reason. It is at this point that every member of the audience becomes a part of the presentation. The flashing red armbands are worn and switched on, and the stadium is surrounds by 'flickering flames', as a 'wall of fire', presented by flaming stilt walkers, fire breathers and flaming club swingers, moves across the earth.

Next

Opening Speech by IOC President Email   |   Home