Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremonies
15 September, 2000
I watched all of the opening ceremonies for the Olympics this year. For anyone who didn’t see it (it was on at 2h North America time but was probably rerun for them to see), here’s information on it and how it went:
It was held in the new The Olympic Stadium, the largest one in the world (so far) that held 110,000 people. The opening ceremony cost $52,000,000 (I assume Australian dollars) and had a cast of 12,600 people. It started off with a mechanical boat, which represented the first settlement Australian settlement, under Captain Arthur Philip, in 1788. Then, there were 120 horse riders, all carrying Olympic flags and doing formations (including one of the Olympic rings). Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) was one of the riders. At the end of that routine, a huge banner was displayed saying "G’Day". How Aussie!
Here’s a bit of info on the rider sequence from an Aussie friend of mine: "They were stockmen and women as seen in the film 'The Man From Snowy River'. The music was from the film. The Man From Snowy River film is based on a poem of that name by a poet named Banjo Paterson. The image of the stockmen is evocative of the rural spirit that 'built modern Australia'. Our prosperity in the 19th and early 20th centuries was based on sheep farming in particular. The phrase 'riding on the sheep's back' is meant to convey that Australia's prosperity was so based. They heralded the entrance of the dignitaries.
Next, a Jazz Band played while the president of the International Olympic Committee took his seat, accompanied by Dawn Frazier, a famous Aussie Olympic swimmer from the 1960’s, as his wife was sick.
Next was the Australian National Anthem, with the 1st part sung by Human Nature (apparently the Aussie version of the Backstreet Boys) and the 2nd part by Julie Anthony, both were accompanied by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Australia has a beautiful National Anthem. After that, the Riders went around the perimeter of the stadium again but this time with Australian Flags.
After that, Nickie Webster, a 13-year-old Australian trapeze artist, put a blanket on the "beach" and "falls asleep" and dreams about Australia’s relationship with the ocean. It consisted of representations of 14 floating sea creatures and 150 kinds of fish. It had the largest number of people ever raised aloft in an aerial performance and used 11 cables, 45 metres above the floor.
Next was an Aboriginal sequence to celebrate the "Native Australians" beginning with a traditional dance ceremony, performing many other different traditional dances and ending with a fire sequence.
The next sequence was called "Nature" which celebrated the different flowers and animals from Australia. There were 803 volunteers performed this sequence, and 133 assistants. This was by far the most beautiful part yet.
Next was the "Tin Man" sequence. Once again, here is info from my Aussie friend (as I had no clue about it): "The "Tin Man" was a famous bushranger (outlaw) that is part of
Australian legend as well - many people say he symbolised the oppression of the Irish based proletariat, others that he was just a thug and criminal and got what he deserved. He kind of symbolises Australia thumbing its nose at authority. Ned wore a suit of armour, but the ones in the opening were based on a very famous series of paintings - the Ned Kelly Series by an Australian artist, Sidney Nolan."
The next segment was called "Opening up of the bush" and was about the outback being settled and Australia’s performing arts.
Next was about the "suburbanization" of the 1950’s with people building houses, tumbling moving boxes, and a sequence with people doing a "ballet" with lawn mowers and. One of the commentators said "No beer, it must be a mistake."
"The Arrivals" was the next sequence celebrating the immigrants that have arrived in Australia over the last 200 years. The first part was the Africans which, as I would expect from anything in Africa, very colorful and had great music and dancing. They had a huge float with many different costumes. The second group represented was the Asians, compete with a Chinese dragon. The third continent was the Americas, primarily with a Latin theme. The fourth group was Europe, with Spanish dancing. The fifth group was Oceania, with beach balls, floating tubes and Polynesian dancers,). At the end, the all formed the outline of Australia. During the Oceania part, they cut to the audience and showed Chelsea Clinton, who was representing the USA!
(at this point in time it is 11h05.)
Nickie Webster performed a song called "Under Southern Skys" and it was signed by all the performers above mentioned.
The next segment was called Eternity. It started off with one tap dancer in the center, then others joined him. Before long, there were tap dancers coming down every isle. The interesting thing is that they were dressed as construction workers tap dancing at a construction sight! It was to represent people that made Australia what it is today (built the building, railways, roads, etc). There were tap dancers from all over Australia.
Artists from all 5 continents to once again symbolize the multi-cultural part of Australia.
They then showed the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the word Eternity emblazoned across it and someone who represented Arthur Stace, an alcoholic who converted to Christianity and wrote the word Eternity all over Sydney. More information on that from my Aussie friend again: "He was a Sydney identity for many years, and he used to go around writing in chalk the word 'Eternity' in copperplate handwriting, on the pavements of Sydney. It was used as a symbol on the Harbour Bridge during the last New Years fireworks."
Next was the Sydney 2000 Olympic Band – 2000 young adult musicians (up to 25 years old) from 20 countries across the world. This was controversial, as many Australians thought that they should be all Australian. They’re the largest marching band in the world ever to perform and was put together by something called "World Projects Corporation."
The processional of the Athletes, from 198 countries, began at 11h39. Here’s the order they came in (and a few notes):
