Olympic Dreams

On the 15th of October, Claude had a volunteer job on the grounds of the Sydney Olympic Park, built for the 2000 Summer Olympics. While he enjoyed his menial tasks, I wandered around and took in the sights, imagining what it must have been like during the Games. The park is still used extensively, and is notably the new home of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The Aquatic Centre is now a fitness center, and while it isn't exactly cheap, I was surprised at the relative affordability of membership, especially considering how the facilities stack up against the average rec center or gym. I was a little surprised that they charged me $3.50 just to go in and take photos, but I suppose that's a fairly common occurrence and it didn't deter me.

The Sydney Games by all accounts stands out as yardstick against which all other games are now measured. I wouldn't really know, having never personally attended any of them and only watching some of the events on television. Anyway, more than a decade after the games, the grounds are well kept and well used. The "Homebush" auto race circuit actually snakes through and around the Olympic Park, and the facilities are ideal for the booths and various displays and shows. But that's another post...

The main stadium

These poles have plaques with the names of all the volunteers who worked the 2000 Olympics

Claude's pole (he often goes by "Rob") - Christmas-y, no? Ho/Ho...
(Don't get up, I'll show myself out...)

Entrance to the Aquatic Center.

The kiddie pool and play area.

The play pool, spa and relaxation pool. Another lap pool is out of frame to the right.

The diving pool, with water polo practice in the near end.

The main lap pool. The diving pool is to the right of frame, the kids' area is beyond the wavy arch and to the left.

The Cauldron, with the ANZ Stadium in the background. The Cauldron was moved here from its original location, and is now an "interactive fountain", where the kids play and cool off in the summer. Water streams from all around the edges as well as myriad perforations in the bottom surface.

The Dome Hall, where scores of classic and custom vehicles were on display during the Sydney Telstra 500 V8 Supercars race. The more conventional attached rectangular Ross Pavillion Hall (behind and at an angle to the left) was the "paddock" where the V8 Supercars were stored and maintained. Race attendees with the proper tickets could wander around in the Ross Pavilion and watch all the goings-on.

Another view of ANZ Stadium.

Those towering latticework light posts all represent the various cities that have hosted the games, and there are benches dedicated to them as well, with their corresponding logos set into the sidewalks. There are many blank benches waiting for future events, and the London bench and logo were ready before the event began. It's not in-your-face obvious, but if you look closely the place is peppered with solar panels as well. As with the Jenolan Caves, it's really not practical for me to show, discuss or even mention but a tiny fraction of all there is to see here. If this kind of thing is interesting to you, I suggest you browse the links I've provided and even do your own Web searches. The details are amazing.