Games Sydney. Sydney Olympic Games 10 years on...

Sydney Olympic Games 10 years on- It is now more than ten years since the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Considered by many as 'The best Games ever ' including the late IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. For me of course, it was my first Olympic Games Volunteering experience. My 1st Olympic Games. Volunteers interested in the London Olympic Games, in 2012, will be able to review and register for the event. I for one will be doing so I will then have to save for the trip. I expect I will stay in Europe for three months when it comes around visit France, Italy, and Spain which I have yet to do, but yearning to do so.

Games Sydney. Thousands of volunteers attended barbecue to mark the 10 year reunion. The reunion was held at the Olympic Precinct at Homebush Bay Sydney. Mant thousands shared and relived their fond memories of yhe Sydney games with each other. Athletes and volunteers alike came together and shared stories of the incidents and highlights of when Sydney came alive 10 years ago. Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe & Susie O'Neill share their Gold Medal achievements as well as their other experiences during the games. Many it seems like only yesterday others say a lot of water has passed under the bridge with new marriages divorces offspring and death in the family since the event. Other such as myself discuss change of job change of direction and a change in living arrangement and lifestyle since the year 2000. Others reflect on their health and changes in their fitness in the intervening 10 years. I for one wanted to attend the 10 year commemoration but took ill with a severe virus with only days of the reunion. Of course a very major event was 9/11 which followed the 2000 Games and the change to all of our lifestyles that that has had on us all.

2000 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Archery: Simon Fairweather - Individual
Athletics: Catherine Freeman - 400m
Cycling: Brett Aitken, Scott McGrory - Madison
Equestrian: Phillip Dutton, Andrew Hoy, Matthew Ryan, Stuart Tinney - Three Day Event Team
Hockey (women): Katie Allen, Alyson Annan, Lisa Carruthers, Renita Garard, Juliet Haslam, Rechelle Hawkes, Nicole Hudson, Rachel Imison, Clover Maitland, Claire Mitchell-Taverner, Jennifer Morris, Alison Peek, Katrina Powell, Angela Skirving, Kate Starre, Julie Towers
Sailing: Tom King, Mark Turnbull - 470 Class; Jennifer Armstrong, Belinda Stowell - 470 Class
Shooting: Michael Diamond - Trap
Swimming: Grant Hackett - 1500m Freestyle; Susan O'Neill - 200m Freestyle; Ian Thorpe - 400m Freestyle; Ashley Callus, Chris Fydler, Michael Klim, Todd Pearson, Adam Pine, Ian Thorpe - 4x100m Freestyle Relay; Grant Hackett, William Kirby, Michael Klim, Daniel Kowalski, Todd Pearson, Ian Thorpe - 4x200m Freestyle Relay
Taekwondo: Lauren Burns - Under 49kg
Volleyball (beach): Natalie Cook, Kerri-Ann Pottharst
Water Polo (women): Naomi Castle, Joanne Fox, Bridgette Gusterson, Simone Hankin, Yvette Higgins, Kate Hooper, Bronwyn Mayer, Gail Miller, Melissa Mills, Debbie Watson, Elizabeth Weekes, Danielle Woodhouse, Taryn Woods

 Before the games from the announcement of the winning bid till shortly after the games the general vibe of Sydney was exuberant and exstatic .  Many developments and improvements to the cities infrasture were made.  These included  removal and conversion of waste dumps such as Olympic Park to fine residential settlements.  Improvement to to traffic flows from the airport to the bridge and beyond were made with toll ways.  The city streets were improved with new pavements and furniture.  The stadiums at Homebush Bay meant that world class events of any size could now be staged in Sydney.  Authorities and organisers of the Games now concede that the after party.  The ongoing maximising of the games has been handled poorly.  Instead of reaping the reward of hosting the games the city was somewhat 'frozen in time' for the want of a better metaphor. The City and state was for whatever reason unable to bank on the amount of goodwill  and positive fever that the games generated.