Games hosts 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 Sydney Olympic Volunteers attended a ten year reunion Barbecue – to honour fond memories of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Volunteers & IOC & AOC Officials met at the Olympic Precinct at Homebush Bay, Sydney. Shared were stories and yarns, of what we remembered of two week(for some of us longer) constant event.(some volunteered for six month's). Everyone I spoke to seemed to agree that ten years has passed so quickly since the Sydney Games.

Australian Athletes and volunteers alike came together and shared stories of the incidents and highlights of when Sydney came alive 10 years ago.

The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games had a profound impact on most Sydney Volunteers.Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe, Susie O'Neill and other Olympians shared their experiences of the games. As well as their other experiences during the games. Some of the volunteers I spoke also agreed it seems like only yesterday. With the proviso that a lot of water has passed under the bridge. New Marriages, Divorces, Offspring and Deaths in the family and friends since the Games. So many things had changed. Of course, the major event since the games was 9/11 which followed. So many things had changed. This included myself where friends and family members had passed away or moved on. I had moved addresses several times since, as well as changed jobs a number of times. A number had changes in their health.

Of course, the major event since the games was September 11 or 9/11. which followed shortly after the 2000 Sydney Games. With that the changes in attitude that that has had on us all. Whilst the events in Munich in 1972 changed the way the Games would be conducted forever. The events of 9/11 changed the way the world dealt with airport security.

The intensity of the Sydney Games experience i remember well. I slept in the car a couple of the nights, unable to drive to where I was staying after such a long day. I Kept a clean spare uniform cleaned in the boot, so I could go and use the shower and Sauna at the Hotel gym.

The events, in Munich 1972, changed the way the Games would be conducted forever. The events of September 9/11 in New York changed the way the western world

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

From the announcement of the winning bid, till shortly after the Sydney Olympics, the social atmosphere of Sydney became much more exuberant. Many developments and improvements to Sydney’s infrastructure were made. These included removal and conversion of waste dumps such as Olympic Park to 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 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.

The Sydney 2000 was Susie O'Neill's final Olympic Games. She won a Gold and three Silver medals. In total Susie has eight Olympic medals, equalling Dawn Fraser's Australian record of the biggest medal aggregate.