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Olympic quick facts
- The Olympics began in Greece about 3,500 years ago.
- 393AD: The Games were discontinued.
- 1887: Baron Pierre de Coubertin came up with the idea of reviving the Olympics.
- 1894: The International Olympic Committee was founded.
- 1896: The first Olympics of the modern era was held in Athens.
- 1956: Australia held its first Olympics in Melbourne.
- 1993: Sydney, Australia was awarded the right to host the 2000 Olympic Games.
Olympic symbols
- Olympic rings
Each ring symbolises a part of the world: Oceania, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. - Three Sydney Olympics' mascots:
Olly the kookaburra,Syd the platypus, Millie the echidna. - Lighting of the Olympic torch
The lighting of the Olympic torch will take place at noon, 12 May, 2000 at Olympia, the site of the Ancient Olympic Games of Greece.
Important dates
- Opening ceremony: 7.00pm, Friday 15 September, 2000.
- Closing ceremony: 8.00pm, Sunday 1 October, 2000.
- Harbour of Life Arts festival: August - October, 2000.
- Paralympic Games : 18 - 29 October, 2000.
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(Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica Online at http://www.eb.com/ and the Official Sydney Olympics website)
Last updated: 17 April 2007
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