Guest Editorial: Keeping the dream alive—and healthy: Public health preparations for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Abstract

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games will open on 15 September 2000. It will be one of the biggest events ever held, involving over 10,000 athletes and about 5,100 officials from 200 countries participating in 28 sports. Around 15,000 media will cover the Games and 300,000 domestic and international visitors will attend. Between 13 September and 3 October 2000, there will be an extra 150,000 to 200,000 people in the central Sydney area at any one time between the hours of noon and 10.00 p.m. Olympic venues are distributed among four precincts spread across the city from Bondi Beach to Ryde, Fairfield and Penrith. The Games period will extend for 60 days, commencing with the opening of the Olympic Athletes’ Village on 2 September to the closure of the Paralympic Athletes’ Village on 1 November. In between will be a series of mass gathering events, including the opening and closing ceremonies and multiple events in the city.