ANZ Stadium marks 15th anniversary of Sydney 2000 Olympics

The ANZ Stadium is looking back to the evening of 15th September 2000, the night of the opening ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when Australia's golden girl Cathy Freeman lit the flame to start what became the “the best ever” Games.

A statement from ANZ Stadium recalls "it’s been 15 years since we welcomed the world here at ANZ Stadium – 15 years since the exceptional Sydney Games became a turning point for our great city.

"The 2000 Sydney Games were a true celebration of Olympic values and sporting excellence, but they were also a point in history – a fortnight that bonded Sydneysiders like never before and showed the world what an amazing city we live in.

"One of the extraordinary characteristics of the Sydney Olympics was the number of volunteers – all 46,967 of them, which had grown from an original number of 500 as Sydneysiders embraced the Games.

"The Sydney Olympics featured 199 competing countries and 10,651 athletes who marched in the parade of nations at the Olympic Stadium.

"The Opening Ceremony was a stunning tribute to Australian culture, history and identity – highlighted by golden girl Freeman lighting the Olympic torch, igniting the flame in the cauldron within a circle of fire. The emotional moment helped symbolise the desire to reconcile with the Aboriginal populations of Australia.

"10 days later, in front of 112,524 fans, then the largest attendance for any sport in Olympics history, Cathy raced to gold in the women’s 400 metres."

Today, ANZ Stadium stands as a magnificent legacy of the Sydney Games, with more than 23 million fans having passed through the Stadium turnstiles to watch some of Australia’s most significant sporting moments and biggest entertainment events.

Images courtesy ANZ Stadium.

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