History

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The Olympic Torch

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch draws its inspiration from the Sydney Opera House, the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the boomerang.

The design of the torch includes three layers which represent earth, fire and water. The inner layer is stainless steel, the middle layer is aluminium and the outer layer is specially coated aluminium.

The torch weighs just over one kilogram and is 72 centimetres tall.

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay,  began in Greece on 10 May 2000.

From Greece, the flame was flown to Guam, the first of 13 Oceanic countries it visited on the way to Australia.

Once on Australian soil, 11,000 Torchbearers will carry the flame 27,000 kilometres to its destination inside Stadium Australia. They will be assisted by 2500 student escort runners and 47 permanent support vehicles, including police escort motorcycles.

The flame will travel on close to 50 different modes of transport during a 100-day journey across the nation. It will be carried across the Nullabor Plain in central Australia by the Indian Pacific train. A scuba diver will carry it underwater at the Great Barrier Reef. It will also be borne by a camel, a surf-lifesaving boat and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

 

Would you Believe

 

History

Ceremonies 1896 Games  Women Interesting Facts Sydney 2000 Dissolving Boundaries Page