Sydney: A little girl walks to the centre of the Olympic Stadium, spreads out a towel, puts zinc cream on her nose and dreams about Australia. In the course of the next 60 minutes, the world will be taken on a mythical voyage through Australia's history by the girl and Djakapurra, a traditional Aboriginal dancer.
The Australian has pieced together a blueprint of the September 15 ceremony from documents drafted by the creative team, led by Ric Birch and David Atkins. Remember Birch: As the Atlanta Games drew to a close in 1996, renowned events producer Birch had just seven minutes to showcase the ethos of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games to the world.
The brief handover ceremony he coordinated - where Sydney symbolically took up the mantle for the Games of the new Millennium - left one lingering image in the minds of many spectators, giant inflatable kangaroos on pushbikes.
Rumours are that the cycling roos may make an appearance at the opening ceremony in Sydney. But so far this is what the run down looks like. As the 118,000-strong crowd find their seats before the 7.00 pm start, 100 Swatch mime characters will run through the audience.
Remember Indian Standard time is five and a half-fours behind Sydney time, so the 7.00 pm start would correspond to 1:30 pm IST. Live vision will be beamed on giant video screens of the athletes boarding their buses at the Olympic Village to take part in the parade of nations.
A glimpse will be given of the 10,800 ceremony performers and the 5000 crew members as they make last-minute preparations. After a second-by-second countdown beginning 6.59 pm, the ceremony will burst to life when 120 stock riders on horses, including "Crocodile Dundee" Paul Hogan, thunder into the stadium.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will strike up The Man From Snowy River for the three and half minute segment. The riders, aged between 15 and 77, will form into the shape of the Olympic rings with Olympic flags flying. They will break free and ride to the fence, where they will throw their stock hats into the crowd and shout 'G Day'.
At 7.03 pm, Governor-General William Deane and IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch will arrive and take their seats in the tribune of honour on the western side of the Olympic stadium.
Jazzman James Morrison and 20 fellow trumpeters will front a swing band playing Fanfare to welcome the dignitaries. The playing of the Australian national anthem will begin at 7.05 pm with vocal group Human Nature singing harmonies.
Julie Anthony will sing the anthem backed by the orchestra and a choir.
The creative segment - performed on a 23,000sq m ground cloth featuring the world's largest mural - will begin with the little girl's Deep Sea Dreaming sequence. After she dreams of the ocean, jellyfish and stingrays, Djakapurra will take centre stage with Aboriginal dancers selected from tribes across Australia.
They will circle around burning eucalyptus leaves and conjure a giant Wandjina, a creation myth spirit symbolising the unity of indigenous people.
Firebreathers will ignite the bush, regenerating plants that bloom into a sea of Australian wildflowers, trees and animals. Djakapurra will walk through the garden and find the girl hidden behind a flower.
The Australian understands that at 7.37pm a three-person bicycle will enter the stadium to begin a journey through early European settlement, before ending with a depiction of the Australian suburban dream.
The final stage will focus on the waves of immigration to Australia and feature Sydney's Anzac Bridge rising in front of 2000 performers. At 8 pm, a 1950-member international marching band will strike up for the parade of athletes. The parade will culminate with the entry of Australia at about 9.30 pm and the performance of John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John singing Dare To Dream.
At 9.38 pm, Governor-General William Dean will officially open the Games of the 27th Olympiad.
As the Olympic flag is raised, Vanessa Amorosi will sing Heroes Live Forever. Finally, at 10.02 pm a torchbearer will enter the arena for the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. Whether it be Dawn Fraser, Betty Cuthbert or another Olympian who is handed the honour, the moment Australia has dreamt of for seven years will have arrived.
Professional Management Group
The Australian has pieced together a blueprint of the September 15 ceremony from documents drafted by the creative team, led by Ric Birch and David Atkins. Remember Birch: As the Atlanta Games drew to a close in 1996, renowned events producer Birch had just seven minutes to showcase the ethos of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games to the world.
The brief handover ceremony he coordinated - where Sydney symbolically took up the mantle for the Games of the new Millennium - left one lingering image in the minds of many spectators, giant inflatable kangaroos on pushbikes.
Rumours are that the cycling roos may make an appearance at the opening ceremony in Sydney. But so far this is what the run down looks like. As the 118,000-strong crowd find their seats before the 7.00 pm start, 100 Swatch mime characters will run through the audience.
Remember Indian Standard time is five and a half-fours behind Sydney time, so the 7.00 pm start would correspond to 1:30 pm IST. Live vision will be beamed on giant video screens of the athletes boarding their buses at the Olympic Village to take part in the parade of nations.
A glimpse will be given of the 10,800 ceremony performers and the 5000 crew members as they make last-minute preparations. After a second-by-second countdown beginning 6.59 pm, the ceremony will burst to life when 120 stock riders on horses, including "Crocodile Dundee" Paul Hogan, thunder into the stadium.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will strike up The Man From Snowy River for the three and half minute segment. The riders, aged between 15 and 77, will form into the shape of the Olympic rings with Olympic flags flying. They will break free and ride to the fence, where they will throw their stock hats into the crowd and shout 'G Day'.
At 7.03 pm, Governor-General William Deane and IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch will arrive and take their seats in the tribune of honour on the western side of the Olympic stadium.
Jazzman James Morrison and 20 fellow trumpeters will front a swing band playing Fanfare to welcome the dignitaries. The playing of the Australian national anthem will begin at 7.05 pm with vocal group Human Nature singing harmonies.
Julie Anthony will sing the anthem backed by the orchestra and a choir.
The creative segment - performed on a 23,000sq m ground cloth featuring the world's largest mural - will begin with the little girl's Deep Sea Dreaming sequence. After she dreams of the ocean, jellyfish and stingrays, Djakapurra will take centre stage with Aboriginal dancers selected from tribes across Australia.
They will circle around burning eucalyptus leaves and conjure a giant Wandjina, a creation myth spirit symbolising the unity of indigenous people.
Firebreathers will ignite the bush, regenerating plants that bloom into a sea of Australian wildflowers, trees and animals. Djakapurra will walk through the garden and find the girl hidden behind a flower.
The Australian understands that at 7.37pm a three-person bicycle will enter the stadium to begin a journey through early European settlement, before ending with a depiction of the Australian suburban dream.
The final stage will focus on the waves of immigration to Australia and feature Sydney's Anzac Bridge rising in front of 2000 performers. At 8 pm, a 1950-member international marching band will strike up for the parade of athletes. The parade will culminate with the entry of Australia at about 9.30 pm and the performance of John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John singing Dare To Dream.
At 9.38 pm, Governor-General William Dean will officially open the Games of the 27th Olympiad.
As the Olympic flag is raised, Vanessa Amorosi will sing Heroes Live Forever. Finally, at 10.02 pm a torchbearer will enter the arena for the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. Whether it be Dawn Fraser, Betty Cuthbert or another Olympian who is handed the honour, the moment Australia has dreamt of for seven years will have arrived.
Professional Management Group
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