Olympic Games Everything about the last Olympic Games of the old Millennium was bigger than any other. Nearly 11,000 athletes from 199 countries participated – the most ever. They competed for gold medals in a record 28 sports. The Games took place in a brand-new Olympic Stadium – the largest in Olympic history. The Olympic torch traveled 27,350 kilometers, burning brightly on land and sea, in the air and even underwater. Clearly, Australia celebrated the Summer Games in a big way.

Games of the Gods T oday’s Olympic Games are very different from the first ones, which were held every fourth summer in ancient Greece 2,800 years ago. Women couldn’t play; they weren’t even allowed to watch. Athletes competed without any clothes on!

The early events were footraces. Later,wrestling, javelin, discus, jumping and other events were added. Athletes became stars in those days, too. There were no TV commercials,but winners’ images often appeared on coins or as statues after their victories. In 394, a Roman Emperor ended the ancient Olympics and they weren’t renewed until many centuries later. In 1896, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin began working to bring back the Olympics. He hoped that the Games would help to promote peace among nations. Two years later, the first modern Olympics took place. Of course, they were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.

The Olympics have changed with the times. The first events for women were h eld in 1900.Many sports have been added. This year, for the first time, women competed in the same number of team sports as men. The 4,300 women in this year’s Games made up 38% of all athletes competing – the most ever.

Lighting the Torch One of the most famous Olympic traditions is the lighting of the Olympic flame. Australian athlete Cathy Freeman carried the Olympic torch up a gleaming white stairway,walking through water to light the flame on stage. Freeman is an Aborigine, which means her ancestors were the first people to inhabit Australia. She was the last of six Australian women to carry the torch at the end of its four-month journey to the Olympic Stadium.These women carried the torch to its final destination to celebrate the 100 th anniversary of women’s participation in the Games.

A Spectacle Like No Other Smoke, fire, music, dancing, horses and marching bands amazed fans as they cheered teams from all over the world at the opening ceremony. The closing ceremony was even more spectacular – with giant shrimp on bicycles, shiny robots on stilts, a Frankenstein kangaroo and a huge inflatable eyeball. Fireworks – the biggest the world had ever seen – lit up the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Fastest, Highest, Strongest! The Games were full of Olympic firsts and record-breaking wins for athletes all over the world. Here are some results: USA: 97 medals (39 gold, 25 silver, 33 bronze) Russia: 88 medals (32 gold, 28 silver, 28 bronze) China: 59 medals (28 gold, 16 silver,15 bronze) Australia: 58 medals (16 gold, 25 silver, 17 bronze) Germany: 57 medals (14 gold, 17 silver, 26 bronze)

Success seemed even sweeter to athletes who overcame tough luck to compete. However, there were some disappointments.Some athletes were sent home because they had been taking drugs. The women’s gymnastics competition was marred by a mistake in setting up the equipment. Still, the spirit of the Games remained strong.

To Be the Best The Olympic Games aren’t just about winning. After all, only 300 of the 10,900 athletes took home the gold. The real thrill is competing against the best players on earth. In the words of US softball player Dot Richardson, “Every athlete wants to face an opponent who’s having the performance of a life-time. That is when you truly find that you are the best".

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