Twenty years on, Avoca mum and ABC reporter Emma Simkin can still remember the mood among the crowds and aura of the city, as she reminisces about her time covering the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
With the paraphernalia to prove it, she looks back on the event as a time that not only brought prosperity and wealth to Australia but also happiness and joy.
As a journalist in her 20s, Simkin was among a small team of ABC staff chosen to be part of the Olympic broadcast team.
“It’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago,” she said.
“As someone who loved sport, I was honoured to have that opportunity, but it was not until the Olympics began that I realised how big it was to be involved.”
The ABC team was based in the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) next to the Olympic stadium, and Simkin said she can still remember the ground of the IBC shaking when Cathy Freeman won gold in the 400m final.
“The whole ground moved because everyone in the stadium was stomping and cheering – it vibrated right through you,” she said.
“Just being in the precinct and actually feeling and hearing the roar of the crowd was quite a magical moment.”
The Sydney Olympic Games were held between September 15 and October 1 in 2000.
The games hosted 199 countries, 10,651 athletes, 46,967 volunteers and 16,033 media personnel, with over 4 million people passing through the city over the two weeks.
Even though there were concerns in the lead up of the event, Simkin said that, during the Olympics, everything ran perfectly.
“Everything about Sydney was just so perfect for those two weeks, beautiful sunny days, balmy at night, not a worry in the world,” she said.
A new circulating bus system and a new train system had been built and (controversially) many of the homeless community were relocated from the CBD.
Simkin said the brand of Sydney was on display to the world.
“Those of who may not have wanted to spend much money on sport reaped the rewards afterwards, and you could not criticise it for what it did for the brand of Sydney and Australia.”
Simkin attended the Gold Medal win of the Australia Eventing Equestrian Team and was a spectator at the first-ever Women’s Water Polo game, where Australia also won gold.
“That one I shared with my family,” she said.
“I remember us all sitting down with the spreadsheets out because you had to put in ticket requests for the events you wanted to see.
“I just threw it into the ring: how about the women’s water polo?”
Despite her family’s initial scepticism, Simkin remembers them all feeling incredibly lucky that they were able to see a gold medal win in person.
“Australia was behind, and with 0.4 of a second left on the clock, Yvette Higgins raises the ball and then BAM, in the back of the net, gold medal Australia,” she said.
“I remember walking out of the stadium, and the entire crowd was Australian, and we were all ecstatic with joy as we walked down the stairs, it such a magical moment.”
Volunteers have been involved in the Olympic games for over 50 years, but Simkin said that there was something special about the Sydney Olympics volunteers.
“The volunteers were such an important part of the Olympics, and I think it is part of the reason that everyone looks at the Sydney Olympics so fondly.”
“That knockabout Australian attitude of the average person on the street who put their hand up and said I want to be a part of this as well really added to the experience.
Jacinta Counihan