Sydney 2000

Australian Unity

Cathy Freeman, the Australian athlete, had the honour of lighting the Olympic torch at the Opening Ceremony. This emotional moment helped symbolise the desire to reconcile with the Aboriginal populations of Australia. Ten days later, she won the 400m final before an ecstatic crowd.

NOCs: 199 (+ four individual athletes (IOA))

Athletes: 10,651 (4,069 women, 6,582 men)

Events: 300

Volunteers: 46,967

Media: 16,033 (5,298 written press, 10,735 broadcasters)

The Rapprochement of the Two Koreas

Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) marched together under the same flag.

Individual Athletes

Four athletes from East Timor took part under the Olympic flag as individual athletes (IOA : Individual Olympic Athletes).

Weightlifting

The first gold medal for Colombia: Maria Isabel Urrutia, 35, Olympic champion weightlifting in the 69-75kg category.

Taekwondo

The first medal won by Vietnam since it began competing in the Olympic Games in 1952: Hieu Ngan Tran, taekwondo, silver medallist in the women 49-57kg category.

The EPO Detection Test

For the first time, tests to detect EPO and blood tests were performed.

The Presence of WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an independent body, was at the Games to monitor all the procedures followed by the International Olympic Committee.

Ceremonies

Official Opening of the Games by:

Sir William Deane, Governor General of Australia

Lighting the Olympic Flame by:

Cathy Freeman (athletics)

Olympic Oath by:

Rechelle Hawkes (hockey)

Officials' Oath by:

Peter Kerr (water polo)