Did you know ???

• The 2004 Olympics will be held in Athens the original home of the Olympic Games. Go to the Official Olympic Games Website.

• The five rings represent the five continents of the world and the rings are linked to symbolize friendship. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on the flag of every country in the world.

• The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius which means Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

• The modern Olympic Torch relay was first held in 1936. The flame is ignited by the sun at Olympia in Greece and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games. More information here.

• The Sydney 2000 Torch represents the sails of the Sydney Opera House, the blue of the pacific Ocean and the curves of the boomerang.

• The Sydney 2000 games have three mascots: Syd - a platypus (named after Sydney), Olly - a kookaburra (named after Olympic) and Millie - an echidna (named after the new millenium).

• The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games will be held in a number of venues, most on the Olympic site at Homebush Bay.

• The opening ceremony of the XXVII Olympiad is on 15th September, 2000, in Stadium Australia at Homebush Bay in Sydney.