Venue |
Sport |
|
|
Homebush Bay |
|
|
|
Olympic Stadium |
Opening and closing
ceremonies |
|
Athletics |
|
Football (soccer)
finals |
|
|
Sydney International
Aquatic Centre |
Aquatics (including
swimming and diving) |
|
|
Sydney SuperDome |
Gymnastics (artistic
and trampolining) |
|
Basketball |
|
|
State Hockey Centre |
Hockey |
|
|
Tennis Centre |
Tennis |
|
|
Baseball Centre |
Baseball |
|
|
Darling Harbour |
|
|
|
Sydney Entertainment
Centre |
Volleyball |
|
|
Sydney Exhibition
Centre |
Boxing |
|
Judo |
|
Wrestling |
|
|
Eastern Suburbs |
|
|
|
Rushcutters Bay |
Sailing |
|
|
Centennial Parklands |
Cycling (road) |
|
Fencing |
|
|
Bondi |
Beach Volleyball |
|
|
Western Suburbs |
|
|
|
Penrith |
Rowing |
|
Canoeing/kayaking |
|
|
Horsley Park |
Equestrian |
|
|
Bankstown |
Cycling (track) |
|
|
Blacktown |
Softball |
Approximately a quarter of a million spectators attended the Olympic
Games, together with an estimated 10,200 athletes from 198
countries, who competed in 28 sports over the 16 days of
competition.
In addition, there were an estimated 5,100 team officials and 15,000
members of the media, as well as thousands of volunteers and workers
who assisted in the successful running of the Olympic Games. In
addition, the worldwide television audience was estimated to be in
the region of 3.5 billion.
The official mascots, Syd the platypus, Millie the echidna and Olly
the kookaburra, were to be seen on every thing from t-shirts to
burger boxes.
The specially-made Olympic Torch was carried by 10,000 torchbearers
in a relay lasting 100 days, 27,000 kms and covering every state and
territory within Australia.
The relay began at Uluru (Ayer's Rock) in June 2000 and ended in the
Olympic Stadium on 15 September when the cauldron was lit by
Aboriginal athlete, Cathy Freeman.
The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games was the first major global sporting
event of the new millennium and Sydney was the place to be in
September 2000.
Getting to Homebush Bay
By train, the journey is 20 minutes from the Sydney CBD. On
weekdays, there are only 5 direct services per day (6.10am, 9.27am,
10.27am, 11.27am and 12.27pm) from Central to Strathfield and
Olympic Park stations.
At weekends, there are 4 trains an hour from Central to Strathfield
and Olympic Park stations, running from 7am to 11pm.
Alternatively, you can catch a train to Lidcombe and then take the
Olympic Park Sprint train, which leaves every 10 minutes from 7am to
11.30pm, for the five minute journey to Olympic Park station.
Please check with the STA information line on 131 500 for any
changes to these services.
Once you arrive at Homebush Bay, one way to see Olympic Park is on
an Olympic Explorer Bus Tour.
Explorer Buses leave the Homebush Bay Visitor Centre every 20
minutes between 9.20am and 3pm and cost $10 for adults and $5 for
seniors and children.
Tickets can be purchased on the bus which makes ten stops around
Olympic Park, allowing you to hop off and on the bus at various
sites around Homebush Bay. There is a full commentary on board but
please note that the cost does not include admission to the various
sites. Phone 131 500 for more information.
Three Olympic venues currently operate guided tours: these are
Stadium Australia ($20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 children), the
Aquatic Centre ($12 adults, $8 concession) and the SuperDome ($14
adults, $9 concession). Please note that no tours operate when
Stadium Australia is in use, either for sporting or concert
purposes.
There are no combined tours available at the Homebush Bay Visitor
Centre of Olympic Park and the venues; however, the major coach
companies offer afternoon coach tours from Sydney to Homebush Bay.
All tours include visits around Stadium Australia, the Aquatic
Centre, the SuperDome and the Visitors Centre and café/shop and
depart daily at 1pm daily, returning at 5.30pm. The cost is $65 for
adults, $60 for concessions and $32 for children, which includes all
admission charges and return coach journey.
The companies currently offering these tours are AAT Kings (tel 9252
2788), ATS Australian Travel Specialists (Tel 9555 2700), Australian
Pacific (Tel 9247 7222) and Gray Line (Tel 9252 4499). In addition,
Red Terra Tours Australia (Tel 9874 4200) offer twice daily tours in
smaller groups, costing $65 for adults and $45 for children.
Alternatively, you can catch a Sydney Ferries RiverCat (Tel 9207
3170) from Wharf 5 at Circular Quay for the 50 minute journey up the
Parramatta River to the Homebush Bay terminal, where you can catch
an Explorer Bus. The combined tour and return ferry journey is
$19.20 adults and $9.20 children. Phone for times of the RiverCats
which connect with the Explorer Bus tours.
As always, check with the individual operator before you travel as
things are likely to change.
Finally, there are also guided walking tours, costing $10 for adults
and $5 for children, and self-guided walking tours.
The Homebush Bay Visitor Centre (Tel 9714 7888) is at 1 Herb Elliott
Avenue and is open daily from 9am to 5pm. |