Seven years ago when International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch said "SYD-EN-EY" I said "I'll be there!"

Having lived in "Syd-en-ey" thirty years ago and with a lifelong love of athletics, it was going to be too good to miss!

When tickets went on sale last year I was successful for the evening finals and some of the heats run in the mornings thanks to good friends in Sydney through whom my application had to be made.

Knowing the city well, I was concerned that with it's sheer size, transportation would be an issue.  However, I should not have been worried as hundreds of buses and drivers from within New South Wales and the other states had been drafted in to help and a shuttle service was in place from Park and Ride locations throughout the suburbs.  Mind you, I had to congratulate my friends for having had the foresight to build their house just twenty minutes walk from one!
In addition, trains ran to and from the station within the Olympic Park and both modes were free with one's ticket for that days' events.

Blessed with generally good weather, I often had to pinch myself as the views from all parts of Stadium Australia were just awesome.

It didn't seem to matter that Britain only gained two golds through Denise Lewis in the Heptathlon and Jonathan Edwards in the Triple Jump; just being close to athletes with such talent and dedication from all nations was a tremendous privilege.
Needless to say, if they wore green and gold they were greeted with loud abandoned applause and cheering.

If you're unsure whether Maurice Greene is successful at intimidating the competition before he enters the blocks, try sitting comfortably just a few feet away as he paces up and down like a hungry cheetah eyeing it's prey.
And you thought Merelene Ottey was graceful - well she is and oh those eyes!

Every evenings' finals were exciting!  None more so than on the Monday when Cathy Freeman and Michael Johnston won their respective 400 metres races.
The pressure on Cathy must have been huge.  Every Australian expected nothing less and she was not to disappoint.

At the Closing Ceremony, Juan Antonio said that the Games of the twenty seventh Olympiad had been the best ever!  Brave words for a man from Barcelona to utter, but I don't believe he ever spoke truer words.  They had been quite simply marvellous in every aspect.

Poor Athens!!!!!

Mike Hogg