2000 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony - Sydney

www.olympicceremony.org 1996 Atlanta Athens 2004 The Games of the XXVII Olympiad Sydney, Australia 2000
2000 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony - Sydney

Olympic Ceremony Records (Records at the time)

First Olympic Cauldron Lit into Water
First Mechanically Moving Olympic Cauldron
First Use of Suspended Puppetry
First Use of Suspended Peformers
First Use of Fire-breathers
Largest Stadium to Host the Opening Ceremony (110,000) - previous Los Angeles 1932 (105,000)
Largest Crowd to Attend the Opening Ceremony (110,000) - previous Los Angeles 1932 (105,000)
Largest Crowd to Attend an Olympic Ceremony (114,714 - closing ceremony)
Most Nations Participating (199) - previous Atlanta 1996 (197)
Most Athletes Participating (10,651) - previous Atlanta 1996 (10,320)
Most Olympic Events (300) - previous Barcelona 1992 (286)

Olympic Torch Relay Records italics indicate records at the time

First Olympic Cauldron Lit into Water
First Mechanically Moving Olympic Cauldron
First Flame Carried in a Wheelchair
First Flame Bungee Jumped
First Flame Surfed
First Flame Carried by Camel
First Flame Carried Underwater
First Flame Skied (summer Olympic record)
Longest Torch Relay - 38,646km (previous Atlanta 1996 - 34,011km)

Opening Ceremony Stadium Australia (110,000)
September 15, 2000
Complete Video
(viewer's guide below in Ceremony Highlights)
Official Report
(hundreds of pictures; click the black arrow for larger view)
Opening Ceremony Highlights
At the time of the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony, it was acknowledged universally as the greatest Opening Ceremony ever. The pageantry and music were present on a most enormous scale. The Olympic Opening Ceremony had established itself as one of the world's leading and most prestigious art forms with this impressive ceremony. In addition, a competitiveness arose in how to "beat" previous ceremonies in the spectacular nature of the event. Sydney astonished the world in a most ingenious cauldron lighting and in a theatrical display that left many to wonder if this ceremony could ever be "beat".

120 riders on horseback form Olympic Rings (0:01)
Governor-General of Australia arrives with dignitaries
National Anthem (6:30)
"Deep Sea Dreaming" artistic segment (11:45)

Hero Girl dreams of sea life, swimming among the creatures
Hero Girl is sucked into a whirlpool

"Awakening" (19:40)

Hero Girl awakes to the dawn of Australia guided by a Songman
Songman awakens the land spirits; aboriginal dance/ceremony

"Nature" (31:20)

Bolt of lightning causes giant brush fire
Regeneration of life

"Tin Symphony" (43:20)

Europeans arrive to Australia

"Arrivals" (56:40)

The world immigrates to Australia

"Eternity" (1:07:50)

Modern Sydney

Sydney Olympic Band performance (1:21:00)
Parade of Nations (1:33:50)
"Dare to Dream" performed by Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham (1:54:30)
Minister Knight, Sir William Deane declares the games open
"Heroes Live Forever" performed by Vanessa Amorosi; giant Olympic flag/projection of dove covers spectators (1:59:40)
Olympic Flag enters the stadium and raised to the Olympic Hymn (2:04:40)
Athlete's and Judge's Oaths (2:12:40)
"The Flame" performed by Tina Arena (2:14:00)
Olympic Flame arrives at the stadium; cauldron lit into water by Cathy Freeman (2:18:00)