In 2000 Sydney hosted the Summer Olympics, marking the second time the Games had ever been held "down unda" (other being 1956 Melbourne). Lasting from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, these were also the second Olympics that took place in the spring (Southern Hemisphere) and is the most recent games not to be held in its more traditional July or August summer window. Presented here is an unused torch from the 2000 Sydney Summer Games.
Comprised of steel and aluminum, this lovely white and aqua torch measures just over 30" long and 4" at its widest. It is
designed by Blue Sky Design and manufactured by G.A. & L. Harrington
Pty Ltd. The tree layers represent earth, fire and water and its
overall aesthetic drew Aussie influence from the Sydney Opera House, the
Great Barrier Reef, and the boomerang. The Sydney Games emblem is
stamped prominently at the top white section of the torch. While not used in the relay, the torch does show moderate handling wear. There is a very small piece loose on the interior, but it does not appear to be anything significant and does nothing to detract from beautiful aesthetics of this torch.
These Games were considered one of the best organized and most
exciting ever, introducing the world to a 15-year-old Michael Phelps who was overshadowed in the pool by Australia's own Ian Thorpe ("Thorpedo"). The torch relay passed within an hour's drive of 85% of Australia's population and traveled over 27,000 km, making it the longest
in Olympic history. It was quite an ordeal that lasted four
months and included 13,400 torchbearers, ending with Aborigine track and
field star Kathy Freeman igniting the Olympic flame.