Memorable for its spectacular Opening Ceremony, the XVII Olympiad started with a ‘bang’, impressing the world with Australia’s ability to stage such an event. It was equally memorable for the fact that 199 countries marched, with North and South Korea combining and, for the first time in Olympic history, a group of athletes marched as ‘Independents’ … those from East Timor.
The Closing Ceremony carried forward the theme begun in the Opening Ceremony 17 days before, farewelling the Olympic Flag to Athens in 2004 and extinguishing the Olympic Flame until that date.
Outgoing IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, declared the Sydney Olympic Games the ‘best ever’.
