Editing 2000 Summer Olympics (section)

===Chronological Summary of the 2000 Summer Olympics===
Although the Opening Ceremony was not scheduled until 15&nbsp;September, the [[Association football|football]] competitions began with preliminary matches on 13&nbsp;September. Among the pre-ceremony fixtures, host nation Australia lost 1–0 to [[Italy national football team|Italy]] at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], which was the main stadium for the [[1956 Melbourne Olympics]].

====Day 1: 15 September====
=====Cultural display highlights=====
{{See also|2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony}}
[[File:2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 1.JPEG|thumb|right|The [[2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony]] at [[Stadium Australia]], on 15 September 2000.]]
The opening ceremony began with a tribute to the pastoral heritage of the [[Stockman (Australia)|Australian stockmen]] and the importance of the [[Australian Stock Horse|stock horse]] in Australia's heritage. It was produced and filmed by the Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation and the home nation broadcaster [[Seven Network]].<ref>Commentary on the official DVD of the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics</ref> This was introduced by lone rider [[Steve Jefferys]] and his rearing [[Australian Stock Horse]] ''Ammo''. At the cracking of Jefferys' [[stock whip|stockwhip]], a further 120 riders entered the stadium, their stock horses performing intricate steps, including forming the five [[Olympic Rings]], sounded by a new version of the song that [[Bruce Rowland]] had previously composed for the 1982 film ''[[The Man from Snowy River (1982 film)|The Man from Snowy River]]''.

The [[Advance Australia Fair|Australian National Anthem]] was sung in the first verse by [[Human Nature (band)|Human Nature]] and the second by [[Julie Anthony (singer)|Julie Anthony]].

The cultural segments of the event take place with many aspects of the land and its people: the affinity of the mainly coastal-dwelling Australians with the sea that surrounds the Island Continent. The [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] inhabitation of the land, the coming of the [[First Fleet]], the continued immigration from many nations, and the rural industry on which the economy of the nation was built, including a display representing the harshness of rural life based on the paintings of Sir [[Sidney Nolan]]. Two memorable scenes were the representation of the heart of the country by 200 [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] women from [[Central Australia]] who danced up "the mighty spirit of god to protect the Games"<ref name="HistoryToday>{{cite news |last1=Bosworth |first1=Richard |title=Rome 1960: Making Sporting History {{!}} History Today |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/rome-1960-making-sporting-history |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=History Today |volume=60 |issue=8 |date=August 2010}}</ref> and the overwhelmingly noisy representation of the [[construction industry]] by hundreds of tap-dancing teenagers.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Because the wife of then-IOC President [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]] was seriously ill and unable to accompany her husband to the Olympics, [[Dawn Fraser]], former Australian Olympic Champion swimmer and member of the [[Parliament of New South Wales]], accompanied Samaranch during the Australian cultural segments, explaining to him some of the cultural references that are unfamiliar for the  people from outside Australia.

=====Formal presentation=====
A record 199 nations entered the stadium, with a record 80 of them winning at least one medal. The only missing [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] member was [[Afghanistan]], who was banned due to the extremist rule of the [[Taliban]]'s oppression of women and its prohibition of sports.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/context-culture/flash-from-the-past-afghans-shattered-2000-olympic-dreams-amended/ |title=Flash from the Past: Afghans' Shattered 2000 Olympic Dreams |last=Clark |first=Kate |date=27 July 2012 |work=Afghanistan Analysts Network |access-date=19 April 2015 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128185955/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/context-culture/flash-from-the-past-afghans-shattered-2000-olympic-dreams-amended/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ceremony featured a unified entrance by the athletes of [[North Korea|North]] and [[South Korea]],{{efn|The national teams of [[North Korea at the 2004 Summer Olympics|North Korea]] and [[South Korea at the 2004 Summer Olympics|South Korea]] competed separately in the Olympic events, even though they marched together as a [[Korea Team|unified Korean team]] in the opening ceremony.}} using a specially designed [[Unification Flag|unification flag]]: a white background flag with a blue map of the [[Korean Peninsula]]. Four athletes from [[East Timor]] also marched in the parade of nations as [[individual Olympic athletes]] and marched directly before the host country. Although the country-to-be had no National Olympic Committee then, they were allowed to compete under the [[Olympic Flag]] with country code [[individual Olympic athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics|IOA]]. The [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]], [[William Deane|Sir William Deane]], opened the games.

The [[Olympic Flag]] was carried around the arena by eight former Australian Olympic champions: [[Bill Roycroft]], [[Murray Rose]], [[Liane Tooth]], [[Gillian Rolton]], [[Marjorie Jackson]], [[Lorraine Crapp]], [[Michael Wenden]] and [[Nick Green (rower)|Nick Green]]. During the raising of the Olympics Flag, the [[Olympic Hymn]] was sung by the Millennium Choir of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]] in Greek. Following this, [[Tina Arena]] sang a purpose-written pop song, ''The Flame''.<ref>[https://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/30/11-olympic-theme-songs-dissected/slide/tina-arena-flame-sydney-2000/ 11 Olympic Theme Songs, Dissected] . ''Time'' (26 July 2012). Retrieved 3 May 2014.</ref>

The opening ceremony concluded with the lighting of the [[Olympic Flame]], which was brought into the stadium by former Australian Olympic champion [[Herb Elliott]]. Then, celebrating 100 years of women's participation in the Olympic Games, former Australian women Olympic medalists [[Betty Cuthbert]] and [[Raelene Boyle]], [[Dawn Fraser]], [[Shirley Strickland]] (later Shirley Strickland de la Hunty), [[Shane Gould]] and [[Debbie Flintoff-King]] brought the torch through the stadium, handing it over to [[Cathy Freeman]], who lit the flame in the [[Olympic cauldron|cauldron]] within a circle of fire. The  choice of Freeman, an Aboriginal woman, to light the flame was notable given the [[Racism in Australia#Indigenous Australians|history of human rights abuses against Aboriginal people in Australia]].<ref>{{cite web |first=@Oli |last=Murray |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/cathy-freemans-iconic-olympic-moment-shows-the-racism-indigenous-australians-face/news-story/c1373eca4dc46445c4bb74d2fbe3c785 |title=Cathy Freeman Sydney Olympics: Sad moment behind iconic moment |publisher=News.com.au |date= |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205140420/https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/cathy-freemans-iconic-olympic-moment-shows-the-racism-indigenous-australians-face/news-story/c1373eca4dc46445c4bb74d2fbe3c785 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following her lighting, Freeman was the subject of racial abuse from some Australians.<ref>Bruce, T., & Wensing, E. (2009). 'She's not one of us': Cathy Freeman and the place of Aboriginal people in Australian national culture. Australian Aboriginal Studies, (2), 90-100.</ref> The planned spectacular climax to the ceremony was delayed by the technical glitch of a computer switch which malfunctioned, causing the sequence to shut down by giving a false reading. This meant that the Olympic flame was suspended in mid-air for about four minutes rather than immediately rising up a water-covered ramp to the top of the stadium. When the cause of the problem was discovered, the program was overridden and the cauldron continued its course, and the ceremony concluded with a fireworks display.<ref>Information given by [[Ric Birch]], Director of Ceremonies, during an interview at the end of the official DVD of the 2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony</ref>

====Day 2: 16 September====
[[File:2000 Olympics first medals.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Gold medallist [[Nancy Johnson (sport shooter)|Nancy Johnson]] (centre) of the U.S., raises her hands with silver medallist [[Kang Cho-hyun]] (left), of South Korea, and bronze winner [[Gao Jing]] (right), of China, during the first medal ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games.]]

The first medals of the Games were awarded in the women's 10 metre [[air rifle]] competition, which was won by [[Nancy Johnson (sport shooter)|Nancy Johnson]] of the United States.

The [[Triathlon]] made its Olympic debut with the women's race. Set in the surroundings of the [[Sydney Opera House]], [[Brigitte McMahon]] representing Switzerland swam, cycled and ran to the first gold medal in the sport, beating the favoured home athletes such as Michelie Jones who won silver. McMahon only passed Jones in sight of the finish line.

The first star of the Games was 17-year-old Australian [[Ian Thorpe]], who first set a new world record in the 400-metre freestyle final before competing in an exciting 4 × 100 m freestyle final. Swimming the last leg, Thorpe passed the leading American team and arrived in a new world record time, two-tenths of a second ahead of the Americans. In the same event for women, the Americans also broke the world record, finishing ahead of the Netherlands and Sweden.

Samaranch had to leave for home, as his wife was severely ill. Upon arrival, his wife had already died. Samaranch returned to Sydney four days later. The Olympic flag was flown at half-staff during the period as a sign of respect to Samaranch's wife.

====Day 3: 17 September====
Canadian [[Simon Whitfield]] sprinted away in the last 100 metres of the men's triathlon, becoming the inaugural winner in the event.

On the cycling track, [[Robert Bartko]] beat fellow German [[Jens Lehmann (cyclist)|Jens Lehmann]] in the individual pursuit, setting a new Olympic Record. [[Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel]] set a world record in the semi-finals the same event for women.

In the swimming pool, American [[Tom Dolan]] beat the world record in the 400-metre [[Medley swimming|medley]], successfully defending the title he won in [[Atlanta]] four years prior. Dutchwoman [[Inge de Bruijn]] also clocked a new world record, beating her own time in the 100 m butterfly final to win by more than a second.


====Day 4: 18 September====
The main event for the Australians on the fourth day of the Games was the 200 m freestyle. Dutchman [[Pieter van den Hoogenband]] had broken the world record in the semi-finals, taking it from the new Australian hero [[Ian Thorpe]], who came close to the world record in his semi-final heat. As the final race finished, Van den Hoogenband's time was exactly the same as in the semi-finals, finishing ahead of Thorpe by half a second.

China won the [[gold medal]] in the men's team all-around gymnastics competition after being the runner-up in the previous two Olympics. The other medals were taken by [[Ukraine]] and Russia, respectively.

Zijlaard-van Moorsel lived up to the expectations set by her world record in cycling in the semis by winning the gold medal.

====Day 7: 21 September====
During the Women's Gymnastics All-Around, female athletes suffered damning scores and injuries due to improperly installed gymnastics equipment. Gymnasts performing on the [[Vault (gymnastics)|vault]] gave uncharacteristically poor performances and fell. Officials blamed the series of falls and low scores on [[performance anxiety]]. It was not until Australian gymnast [[Allana Slater]] and her coach, [[Peggy Liddick]], voiced concerns about the equipment that officials discovered the apparatus was five centimetres, or almost two inches, lower than it should have been. While athletes were given the opportunity to perform again, for some of them, the damage to their mental or physical health caused by the vault was irreparable. Chinese gymnast [[Kui Yuanyuan]] and American gymnast [[Kristen Maloney]] both injured their legs while attempting to stick their landings, with Kui needing to be carried to an examination area and Maloney damaging a titanium rod that had recently been implanted in her shin. Romanian gymnast [[Andreea Răducan]] ultimately took gold while her teammates, [[Simona Amânar]] and [[Maria Olaru]] took silver and bronze, respectively.

====Day 9: 23 September====
By rowing in the winning coxless four, [[Steve Redgrave]] of Great Britain became a member of a select group who had won gold medals at five consecutive Olympics.

The swimming 4 x 100-metre medley relay of B.J. Bedford, [[Megan Quann]] (Jendrick), [[Jenny Thompson]] and [[Dara Torres]] became the first women's relay under 4-minutes, swimming 3:58 and setting a world record, claiming the gold medal for the United States.

====Day 10: 24 September====
[[Rulon Gardner]], never an [[NCAA]] champion or a world medalist, beat [[Alexander Karelin]] of Russia to win gold in the super heavyweight class, [[Greco-Roman wrestling]]. Karelin had won gold in [[1988 Summer Olympics|Seoul]], [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona]] and [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta]]. Before this fight, he had never lost in international competition, had been unbeaten in all competitions in 13 years, and had not surrendered a point in a decade.

====Day 11: 25 September====
[[File:Cathy400 mediafrenzy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Cathy Freeman]] after the 400-metre final]]
Australian [[Cathy Freeman]] won the 400-metre final in front of a jubilant Sydney crowd at the [[Stadium Australia|Olympic Stadium]], ahead of [[Lorraine Fenton|Lorraine Graham]] of Jamaica and [[Katharine Merry]] of Great Britain. Freeman's win made her the first competitor in Olympic Games history to light the [[Olympic Flame]] and then go on to win a [[Gold Medal]]. The attendance at the stadium was 112,524 – the largest attendance for any sport in Olympic Games history.

In a men's basketball pool match between the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States]] and [[France national basketball team|France]], the USA's [[Vince Carter]] made one of the most famous [[slam dunk|dunks]] in basketball history. After getting the ball off a steal, the 6'6"/1.98 m Carter drove to the basket, with 7'2"/2.18 m centre [[Frédéric Weis]] in his way. Carter jumped, spread his legs in midair, scraped Weis' head on the way up, and dunked. The French media dubbed the feat ''le dunk de la mort'' ("the dunk of death").

====Day 14: 28 September====
{{seealso|Death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau}}
The [[Canadian flag]] at the athletes' village was lowered to [[half-mast]] as Canadian athletes paid tribute to the former prime minister [[Pierre Trudeau]] after hearing of his [[Death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau|death]] in Montreal (because of the [[time zone]] difference, it was 29&nbsp;September in Sydney when Trudeau died). The Canadian flag was flown at half-mast for the remainder of the Olympics, on orders from both IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister [[Lloyd Axworthy]], and as the [[Death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau|state funeral]] did not take place until 3 October, two days after the closing ceremony, so they have enough time to head back to Canada after the Games and attending his funeral.&nbsp;

====Day 16: 30 September====
[[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] won a historic gold medal over [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] in the Men's Olympic [[association football|Football]] Final at the Olympic Stadium. The game went to a penalty shootout, which was won by Cameroon 5–3.<ref>{{cite web | title = Patrick Mboma|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/halloffame/m/n214045822.shtml  | access-date =9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517151346/http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/halloffame/m/n214045822.shtml |archive-date=17 May 2013}}</ref>

====Day 17: 1 October====
{{See also|2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony}}
[[File:Fireworks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Olympic colours on the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]].]]
The last event of the games was the Men's Marathon, contested on a course that started in North Sydney. The event was won by [[Ethiopia]]n [[Gezahegne Abera]], with Kenyan [[Erick Wainaina]] second, and [[Tesfaye Tola]], also of Ethiopia, third. It was the first time since the 1968 Olympics that an Ethiopian won the gold medal in this event.

The closing ceremony commenced with [[Christine Anu]] performing her version of the [[Warumpi Band]]'s song "[[My Island Home]]", with several [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] dancers atop the Geodome Stage in the middle of the stadium, around which several hundred umbrella and lamp box kids created an image of Aboriginal Dreamtime. The Geodome Stage was used throughout the ceremony, which was a flat stage mechanically raised into the shape of a [[Geode]].

IOC President [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]] declared at the Closing Ceremony,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/02/sports/sydney-2000-closing-ceremony-a-fond-farewell-from-australia.html|title=Sydney 2000: Closing Ceremony; A fond farewell from Australia|date=2 October 2000|first=Jere|last=Longman|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-date=9 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709000239/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/02/sports/sydney-2000-closing-ceremony-a-fond-farewell-from-australia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote|I am proud and happy to proclaim that you have presented to the world the best Olympic Games ever.}}
Subsequent Summer Olympics held in [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens]], [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics|London]] have been described by Samaranch's successor [[Jacques Rogge]] as "unforgettable, dream Games", "truly exceptional" and "happy and glorious games" respectively&nbsp;– the practice of declaring games the "best ever" having been retired after the 2000 Games.