Millennium Olympics begins in a blaze

SYDNEY, SETEMBER 15: With a thunderous G'day' roar to the watching world, Australia launched the new millennium Olympics in a sizzling op...

SYDNEY, SETEMBER 15: With a thunderous G8217;day8217; roar to the watching world, Australia launched the new millennium Olympics in a sizzling opening ceremony topped by aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman lighting the Olympic Flame.

After its 100-day journey during which it was carried by 11,000 torchbearers across the world, the Olympic Flame arrived at its final destination to light up the sky above Stadium Australia for the next 17 days. The 27-year-old Freeman 8212; Australia8217;s gold medal hope in 400m and 200m 8212; as the final bearer, set the Olympic cauldron ablaze inside a pool of water as the 110,000 crowd roared its approval.

She then waited for several minutes 8212; the pageant by now had already well exceeded its allocated time span 8212; before the blazing cauldron slowly ascended a ramp over a fountain leading to its final position high above the stadium, unleashing a booming fireworks display which lit up the Sydney night sky.

It was an emotional finale to what had been an extraordinary night which paid tribute to the 100th anniversary of women in the Olympics and unity between races. Former Australian female Olympians 8212; wheelchair-bound Betty Cuthbert pushed by one-time sprinter Raelene Boyle 8212; brought the flame into the stadium. Cuthbert then handed over the flame to former swimmer Dawn Fraser who transferred the flame to Shirley Strickland, then to Shane Gould and Debbie Flintoff-King, who handed it to Freeman. The secret was finally out.

Even in a country that knows how to throw a party 8212; the Bicentennial Celebration in 1988 and the Millennium fireworks display on New Year8217;s Eve were huge crowd-pullers 8212; the Olympic opening ceremony bonanza set a new standard. It was a three-hour celebration of Australian culture and history which avoided the stereotypes; there wasn8217;t a kangaroo, koala or convict in sight.

The highlight of the night was North Korea and South Korea marching under the same flag for the first time and there was a huge cheer and standing ovation from the crowd when the united team paraded with other competing nations.

Australian Governor General Sir William Deane and International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, along with Fraser, first lady at the Sydney Opening Ceremony, officiated. 8220;G8217;day Sydney. G8217;day Australia,8221; said Samaranch, greeting the crowd in what has become the motto of these Games.

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And there was no shortage of international celebrities and royalty to help them launch the 27th Olympiad in this sports-mad country. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was in the crowd along with the world8217;s richest man Bill Gates, Chelsea Clinton and Belgium8217;s Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde.

Two central characters threaded the whole ceremony together 8212; a little girl and an aboriginal dancer Djakapurra 8212; symbolising unity and reconciliation.

A Deep Sea Dreaming8217; sequence, a feat of technology breaking records for the largest number of people ever raised aloft in an aerial performance, initiated the creative section of the show.