90 replies to this topic

[micheal_warren]

Guardian, on Oct 17 2009, 11:28 AM, said:

Well, I hope that Sydney was using some of the Olympic venues for the 2009 World Masters Games.

I think they were. I saw on the news here in New Zealand that they were using the medal dias that were used in Sydney 2000

[Sir Rols]

Most of it was centered around Olympic Park, Homebush, so yes.

[4gamesandcounting]

Did anyone go?

[Sir Rols]

Don't finalise that Tally yet ...

Quote

Chinese team may be stripped of medal from 2000 Sydney Olympic Games

From correspondents in Lausanne, Switzerland
February 27, 2010

China could be stripped of their women's gymnastics team event bronze medal from the 2000 Olympic Games after one of their athletes, Dong Fangxiao, was found to be under age.
Dong claimed that she was 17 years old at the time of the Sydney Games, but the International Gymnastics Federation has discovered she was in fact just 14, well below the strict minimum age of 16.

China teammate Yang Yun, a bronze medallist in the team event as well as the uneven bars was also under investigation, but she was cleared of breaking the rules and issued with a warning.

Dong's results in Sydney have been cancelled, FIG officials said.

The International Olympic Committee will be asked to withdraw the bronze from the Chinese team, FIG president Bruno Grandi said.

“Young gymnasts cannot be manipulated," Grandi said.

"Athletes must be protected. To prevent such fraud in the future, a new licensing system has been implemented by the FIG."

Dong's case came to light at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, after she applied for accreditation as a team official when she declared her birth date as January 23, 1986, which would have made her 14 during the Sydney Olympics.

Agence France-Presse

[Guardian]

It is going to be interesting on three fronts:

1. How would Sydney celebrate the 10th anniversary of the city hosting the Olympic Games later this year?

2. That Chinese controversy of using "under-age" athletes in the Olympic Games in 2000.

3. How would China do in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

[Guardian]

Well, this news just came out hot from the presses. According to the Calgary Herald, the Chinese team loses the bronze medal in women's team gymnastics. The Americans get the bronze medal instead.

Link: Calgary Herald: China stripped of Sydney gymnastics bronze medal

[4gamesandcounting]

Anybody heard any plans of a 10 Year celebration? Surely they will light the flame and have a bit of a party?!

[Sir Rols]

I did see mention earlier this year in the papers of some sort of celebration being planned. No details, though - probably more to emerge as we get closer. I'm sure the AOC will hold some sort of official diner etc, some sort of public tribute at Olympic Park and the Oly Vollies (volunteers) may organise some reunions etc.

[gotosy]

AOC honours Sydney Olympic organisers

May 15, 2010 - 1:59PM

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has honoured two of the key architects of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

At its annual general meeting at Sydney's Darling Harbour on Saturday, the AOC presented awards to Michael Knight and David Richmond.

AOC president John Coates presented the awards, which state "in grateful appreciation of your contribution to the Australian Olympic movement on the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Olympic Games".

"Ten years on, Sydney is still recognised as the best Games ever which highlights the vision, hard work and dedication both men showed during what was a frantic and at times stressful time in our lives," Coates said.

"Michael and David both had their critics, but the end result and the legacy for all Australians vindicates some tough decisions they made.

"We needed people who could get the job done and they achieved the ultimate result."

Knight was NSW minister for Olympics from 1995 till 2001 and chair of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). At the conclusion of the Games, he was awarded the gold Olympic Order.

Richmond ran the Olympic Co-Ordination Authority (OCA).

http://news.smh.com....00515-v54b.html

[Sir Rols]

Quote

Freeman to relight cauldron for 10th Anniversary
18 June 2010

The 15th of September this year marks the 10 year anniversary of Sydney 2000 – the Games that Sydney, Australia and Olympic fans around the world remember as the “Best Games Ever”.

One of the highlights for the planned celebrations is the relighting of the Sydney Olympic cauldron by Cathy Freeman. The Overflow at Sydney Olympic Park will also be officially renamed ‘Cathy Freeman Park’ on the day.

Olympians, volunteers and over 1000 school children will participate in activities and presentations during the day with media interest being very high for the occasion.

In the morning, London 2012 Organising Committee Chairman and dual Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe will speak at a fundraising breakfast for Australia’s 2012 Olympians and to unveil London’s plaque on Olympic Boulevard. Each Olympics has a plague on the promenade.

Later in the day Juan Antonio Samaranch will be commended for his work as IOC president. Samaranch led the IOC during the Games and called them the “best Olympic Games ever” at the closing ceremony.

There will be a reunion in the Olympic Stadium with school children involved in a re-enactment of the march past and in the evening there will be a Celebration Dinner in the Millennium Room of the Stadium.

The Australian Olympic Committee are driving the celebrations and are joined on the Organising Committee by representatives from the Australian Paralympic Committee, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Events NSW, the City of Sydney and NSW Government Premier’s Department.

Celebrations for the week are to begin Sept. 11, with an exhibit of the “largest collection” of Sydney Olympic memorabilia at the Powerhouse Discovery Centre in Sydney.

The exhibit would contain the torch Freeman used to light the cauldron and costumes used by celebrities at the opening and closing ceremony.

The Olympic celebrations are set to conclude Sept. 17 with a discussion of Sydney’s Olympic legacy at the University of Technology, Sydney. Paralympic celebrations are scheduled for Oct. 18, with an invitation-only Paralympian of the Year ceremony.

AOC