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Sydney 2000 Olympics New South Wales
By
the
time
the
5.5
million
tickets
to
the
2000
Olympic
Games
went
on
sale
in
1999,
Sydney
was
ready
to
bask
in
the
glare
of
the
international
spotlight.
The
staging
of
the
Games
of
the
XXVII
Olympiad,
was
held
from
September
15
to
October
1,
2000
(Paralympics
October 21
to
November
1),
not
only
highlighted
the
spectacular
Games
facilities
that
Sydney
provided,
but
the
Games
were
an
unprecedented
opportunity
for
Sydney
and
the
rest
of
Australia
to
display
to
the
world
the
vibrant
and
culturally
rich
nation
that
we
have
become.
Sydney
set
the
pace
in
the
lead-up
to
the
Games
with
a
focus
on
giving
visitors
to
Sydney
and
New
South
Wales
truly
memorable
experiences.
Since
winning
the
bid
in
September
1993,
construction
had
been
underway
to
create
the
world's
best
sporting
facilities,
as
well
as
new
and better
attractions,
a
streamlined
infrastructure,
transport
links,
parks,
services
and
technology
that
has served
Sydney
well
beyond
2000.
More
than
A$1
billion
in
development
was spent
for
central
Sydney
area
alone
.
Some
of
additional
benefits
to
Sydney
include
a
new
rail
link
between
the
city
and
the
airport;
expanded facilities
at
Sydney
Airport;
expanded
ferry
network;
inner
urban
renewal
projects;
and
CBD
retail
renewal
projects.
As
Sydney
needed
an
extra
5600
hotel
rooms
-
the
equivalent
of
10
new
large
hotels
-
major
new
hotel
projects
were developed
for
the
city,
including
Darling
Harbour,
East
Circular
Quay,
Wooiloomooloo
Finger
Wharf,
Sydney
Casino,
the
Grace
Bros
CBD
department
store,
the
World
Square
CBD
site
and the
Homebush
Bay
Olympic
area.
The
2000
Olympics
fast-tracked
Sydney
as
one
of
the
world's
great
destinations,
it
translated
into
more
high-yield
arrivals.
An
extra
6.3
million
international
tourists
arrived
in
Sydney
during
the
Games
and
as
a
spin-off
from
the
focus
of
attention
on
the
State,
tourist
numbers
increased
to 7.6
million
in
2003.
The
Games
took
place
at
venues
within
30
minutes
travel
from
the
Olympic
Village
and
main
stadium
at
Homebush
Bay,
just
14
kilometres
west
of
the
city
centre.
For
the
first
time
in
Olympic
history
all
athletes
lived
together
in
one
village
near
the
main
events.
An
extensive network
of
trains,
buses,
ferries,
water
taxis,
light
rail
and
monorail
guaranteed
fast
and
trouble-free
transport
to
the
Games
venues
for
the
many
thousands
of
spectators.
In
the
years
leading
up
to
the
Games,
visitors
to
Sydney
took
a
Homebush
Bay
Olympic
Site
Guided
Tour
to
view
the
redevelopment
of
this
massive
riverside
site.
The
tour
showcased
the
State
Sports
Centre,
Bicentennial
Park,
Athletic
and
Aquatic
Centres,
as
well
as
the
Olympic
Village,
Stadium (80,000
seats)
and
Velodrome.
The
unique
design
of
the
Homebush
Bay
site
was
developed
in
consultation
with
Greenpeace
and
other
environmental
groups
to
showcase
Australian
environmental
technology
and
ensure
the
2000
Games
are
environmentally
friendly.
Issues
addressed
during
the
construction
and
development
of
the
site
included
biodiversity,
ozone
depletion, air/water/soil
pollution,
energy
efficiency,
recycling,
and
the
preservation
of
the
Homebush
Bay
wetlands.
Some
of
the
tourism
benefits
Sydney,
New
South
Wales
and
Australia
enjoyed
in
the
lead-up
to
the
Games
included:
- Extra
2.1
million
international
tourists
by
2004
-
representing
a
A$4
billion
boost
to
tourism
- During
the
2
weeks
of
the
games,
300,000
visitors,
30
cruise
ships
and
15,000
media
representatives
were
here.
- A
major
boost
for
the
conventions,
incentives
and
events
industries
- Unprecedented
exposure
and
enhancement
of
the
profile
of
Sydney,
New
South
and
Australia
on
the
world
stage
- A
new
and
improved
infrastructure
for
tourism
both
before
and
after
the
Games
- Closer
links
with
the
world
travel
industry
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION,
CONTACT:
Tourism
New
South
Wales,
140
George
Street,
The
Rocks,
Sydney
2000.
Tel:
(02)
931
1111;
Fax:
~02)
9311490.
Sydney
Organising
Committee
for
the
Olympic
Games
(SOCOG)
Tel:
(02)
931
2000.
Or
visit
the
Sydney
Olympics
Web
Site
at
Sydney
2000
Olympic
Games
Photo courtesy - Tourism NSW
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