2000 Summer Olympics cauldron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2000 Summer Olympics cauldron |
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| Location | Cathy Freeman Park near corner of Olympic Boulevard and the Grand Parade, Sydney Olympic Park, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 2000–2010 |
| Architect | Michael Scott-Mitchell (original design) and Tzannes Associates (re-presented in Cathy Freeman Park) |
| Owner | Sydney Olympic Park Authority |
| Official name: Olympic Cauldron at Sydney Olympic Park; The Cauldron; Sydney Olympic Games Cauldron; Millenium Games Cauldron; Sydney 2000 Games Cauldron | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 September 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1839 |
| Type | Olympic Facility |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders | Engineers Tierney and Partners with the assistance of LUSAS Civil and Structural |
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The 2000 Summer Olympics cauldron is a special structure in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia. It used to hold the Olympic flame during the Sydney 2000 Games. Now, it's a beautiful fountain in Cathy Freeman Park.
It was first designed by Michael Scott-Mitchell. Later, Tzannes Associates helped redesign it for its new home. Engineers Tierney and Partners built it between 2000 and 2010. People also call it the Olympic Cauldron at Sydney Olympic Park, The Cauldron, or the Sydney 2000 Games Cauldron. The Sydney Olympic Park Authority owns this important piece of history. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2010.
Contents
Sydney's Amazing Olympic Games
What Were the Sydney 2000 Olympics?
The Sydney 2000 Games were a huge international sports event. They took place in Sydney, Australia, from September 15 to October 1, 2000. These games were also known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. It was only the second time the Summer Olympics were held in the Southern Hemisphere. The first time was in Melbourne in 1956.
Many people thought the Sydney 2000 Games were a great success. Everything seemed perfect, from the venues to the volunteers. For 17 days, the city was full of smiles and excitement. Athletes from 200 countries competed for 300 gold medals. There were 10,561 athletes in total.
Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said something famous. He announced that Sydney had presented "the best Olympic Games ever."
The Spectacular Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympics happened on Friday, September 15, 2000. About 110,000 people watched it live in the stadium. Over 12,000 performers took part in the show. Billions more watched it on TV around the world.
Ric Birch and David Atkins were the main directors of the show. They created an amazing display of Australian culture. The ceremony started with a lone rider and 120 stock horses galloping into the stadium. Then, 900 Indigenous Australians performed a moving "Awakening" segment. Performers even breathed flames to show a bushfire.
A 13-year-old girl named Nikki Webster floated above the arena. She was surrounded by giant glowing jellyfish and seahorses. The stadium floor showed images of ancient Australia. Then, a magical carpet of wildflowers appeared. People dressed as honey myrtles, waterlilies, and waratahs glowed brightly.
The show also featured Captain Cook's First Fleet arriving. Then, Ned Kelly and his gang appeared. A section called "Arrivals" celebrated all the people who came to live in Australia. This led to a tribute to industry with Adam Garcia and many tap dancers. Finally, a 2,000-piece marching band played famous songs.
An endless parade of 12,000 athletes and coaches from 200 countries followed. It was the largest group of countries ever at an Olympics. North and South Korea even marched together for the first time in almost 100 years. The biggest cheer was for the Australian team.
Lighting the Olympic Cauldron
The Olympic torch relay started in Olympia, Greece, on May 10, 2000. The flame traveled across the world to Australia. In Australia, the torch went on a 27,000 km journey. It visited many towns and communities, starting at Uluru and ending in Sydney. The relay made people feel proud and united.
The final part of the torch relay in Stadium Australia was very special. Six famous Australian women athletes carried the torch. They had won 15 gold medals between them. Everyone wondered who would light the Olympic Cauldron. The relay had started with a young Indigenous woman, Nova Peris. It ended with another, Cathy Freeman.
Cathy Freeman was chosen for this great honor. This choice was a powerful statement about Australia's desire for reconciliation. It was a very important moment in the nation's history.
Cathy Freeman walked up four flights of stairs with the torch. Then, she walked across a shallow pond to a central island. She dipped the torch low and lit a ring of fire around her. The pond hid a special cauldron that slowly rose around her. Fire burned from 150 gas nozzles around its edge.
There was a small problem when the cauldron got stuck for about three minutes. Cathy Freeman stood still, holding the torch high. Engineers quickly fixed the issue. The cauldron then successfully moved to the top of the stadium.
Even with the small delay, the TV footage of Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron was amazing. It was called "the sporting image of the year" by Sportel. This international sports TV group gave an award for the cauldron lighting scene.
Who is Cathy Freeman?
Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman, known as Cathy Freeman, was born on February 16, 1973. She is an Australian Aboriginal sprinter. She is famous for running the 400-meter race. Cathy became the Olympic champion for the 400m at the Sydney 2000 Games. She also had the great honor of lighting the Olympic Flame.
Cathy's stepfather, Bruce Barber, was her first coach. By her early teens, she had won many regional and national titles. She competed in the 100m, 200m, and high jump. In 1990, Cathy was part of Australia's 4x100m relay team for the Commonwealth Games. They won gold, making her the first Aboriginal Commonwealth Games gold medalist. She was also one of the youngest at 16 years old.
In 1992, Cathy competed in her first Olympic Games. She reached the second round of the 400m. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, she won gold in both the 200m and 400m. In 1996, she won a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics. She also won two World Championship titles in 1997 and 1999.
At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Cathy was a huge favorite to win the 400m. She won the Olympic title in 49.11 seconds. After her win, Cathy took a victory lap. She carried both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. This was special because unofficial flags are usually not allowed at the Olympics.
After her Olympic success, Cathy took a break from running. She returned in 2002 to compete in the Commonwealth Games relay team. Cathy announced her retirement from running in 2003.
Many Australians felt it was perfect for Cathy Freeman to light the Olympic cauldron. She was a top athlete and proud of her Aboriginal heritage. She also spoke out against unfairness to Aboriginal people. These qualities inspired a nation that was talking about reconciliation. Her role in the ceremony showed the Olympic spirit. It celebrated sport, history, and culture.
Lighting the Paralympic Cauldron
The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron for the Sydney Paralympic Games was also a highlight. Wheelchair racer Louise Sauvage lit it on October 18, 2000. This was the end of another torch relay. This relay started at Parliament House, Canberra, on October 5, 2000.
About 920 torchbearers carried the flame. Each person carried it for about 500 meters. The flame visited every Australian capital city by air. Then, it traveled through many towns in New South Wales. Like the Olympic Torch Relay, the Paralympic Relay got a lot of support. Crowds lined the streets, especially in Sydney.
A Sydney newspaper described the Paralympic cauldron lighting. The same cauldron that burned for the Olympics was used. A smaller cauldron first rose from the stage and was lit. Then, it shot a seven-meter flame towards the main cauldron high above the stadium. This started a series of fireworks and flames. It looked like the flame was whisked up to the main cauldron. The cauldron then lit up again, making the 100,000 crowd cheer. The cauldron stayed lit for the 11 days of the Paralympics.
How Was the Cauldron Designed?
The idea for a cauldron lighting ceremony that mixed fire and water came from Ric Birch. He was the Director of Ceremonies. Michael Scott-Mitchell designed the cauldron itself. Tierney and Partners helped with the structural design.
Building the cauldron took two years of planning and hard work. Many experts were involved. These included engineers, manufacturers, and gas and water specialists.
On the day of the opening ceremony, Michael Scott-Mitchell shared his thoughts. He wanted to combine fire and water in a special way. He imagined an athlete walking across water, with a waterfall behind them. The athlete would then light a ring of fire on the water. This fire would then rise, revealing the cauldron. The cauldron would keep rising, looking like it was floating above the waterfall.
He was excited about mixing fire and water. He felt these elements are important to the Australian landscape. They represent cleansing and new beginnings. He wanted the cauldron to show the "regeneration of the Olympic Spirit" for the new Millennium.
Many people worked together to make the design happen. This included production managers, engineers, and experts in fire, gas, and water. Michael Scott-Mitchell hoped the cauldron would inspire people. He wanted it to celebrate all the good things humans can achieve.
The Olympic Flame Tradition
What is the Olympic Flame?
The Olympic Flame, or Olympic Torch, is a symbol of the Olympic Games. It reminds us of an old Greek story. In the story, the god Prometheus stole fire from Zeus. In ancient Greece, a fire burned throughout the ancient Olympic Games.
The fire was brought back for the modern Olympics in 1928 in Amsterdam. It has been part of the games ever since. Legend says the torch's flame has been burning since the very first Olympics.
For the ancient Greeks, fire was very special. They thought it came from the gods. Fires burned at many temples in Olympia, Greece. A fire always burned at the altar of Hestia. During the Olympic Games, more fires were lit for Zeus and Hera. Today, the modern Olympic flame is lit where Hera's temple once stood.
The Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch is lit several months before the Games begin. This happens at the ancient Olympic site in Olympia, Greece. Eleven women, like ancient priestesses, light the torch. They use the sun's rays focused by a special mirror.
The torch relay, which carries the flame from Greece to the host city, is a modern idea. It was first used at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The Olympic Torch Relay ends on the opening day of the Games. The last person to carry the torch is usually a famous athlete from the host country. Their name is often a secret until the last moment. This person runs to the cauldron, which is often high up. They use the torch to light the flame in the stadium. It is a huge honor to light the Olympic Flame. Once lit, the flame burns throughout the Olympics. It is put out on the day of the closing ceremony.
The Cauldron Today
Where is the Cauldron Now?
In 2001, the northern stand of the stadium was removed. The cauldron was then moved to a new spot nearby. This area is now called Cathy Freeman Park. Tzannes Associates helped redesign it for its new location.
The cauldron's original stem was removed. It was placed on top of 24 stainless steel poles. These poles are arranged in a fun, random way. The cauldron is about 10 meters above the ground.
It now works as a giant fountain. Water flows over its sides onto the pavement below. Children love to play under the water, especially in summer!
The cauldron has a new burner system. It also has a water feature inside its outer shell. These features get water and gas from an underground room. This room also holds lights for the cauldron. It has pumps, water meters, and water treatment systems.
The cauldron is surrounded by a special elliptical pavement. This pavement has the names of all the athletes who won medals at the Sydney Olympic Games. This "Roll of Honour" includes both Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It's a tradition to remember medal winners near the Olympic Stadium.
The cauldron looks a bit different now that it's moved. It's no longer high up on a 50-meter mast. Instead, it's on steel rods in a park. But it can still be lit with a flame for special events. Its flowing water makes it a popular fountain.
Why is the Cauldron Important?
The Olympic Cauldron at Sydney Olympic Park is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the highlight of the Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony in 2000. It reminds everyone of Sydney's success in hosting the Millennium Games. Billions of people worldwide watched the opening ceremony.
The cauldron is also important because of its connection to the Olympic athletes. Especially to Cathy Freeman, the Aboriginal athlete. She was chosen to light the cauldron, starting the Games. The image of the lit cauldron, with fire and water, rising around Freeman is unforgettable.
Many Australians feel proud of the Sydney Olympic Games. The cauldron is a symbol of that pride. It is also important to visitors of Sydney Olympic Park. It's now a popular fountain in Cathy Freeman Park.
The Olympic Cauldron is unique in New South Wales. It is the only cauldron designed to hold an Olympic flame in the state. It represents Olympic cauldrons around the world.
