Geelong had its part in the 2000 Sydney
Olympic Games on July 29, 2000, when the Olympic Torch came
through the city.
A large public reception greeted the torch at
Eastern Beach in front of thousands of well wishers.
The Flame came to Geelong on day 52 of its
journey, coming in from the western suburbs from a morning start
from Ballarat. It later left for Bacchus Marsh on its way to
Melbourne were it visited Flemington and on the Sunday did a lap
of the 1956 Olympic Stadium the MCG in front of a sell out AFL
Football crowd.
Photo: Geelong Olympian Dick Garrard lights the Olympic
cauldron at Geelong's
Eastern Beach on its way to the Sydney 2000
Olympic Games
The Olympic Torch was lit in
Greece and visited eleven Pacific countries before
landing in Central Australia on its way to the Sydney
Olympic Games
Geelong was one of the biggest turnouts to
this point on the journey to Sydney. It was noted that
nowhere earlier on the trip had the relay been delayed so much
from the number of people lining the streets to greet the flame.
Geelong boxer Dick Garrard had the honor
of lighting the cauldron for the City. Sadly Mr. Garrard was at
the time Australia's oldest surviving Olympian, sadly he passed
away in 2002.
2000 was the second time the Olympic Torch has come to our
city, it visited on its way to Melbourne for the opening
ceremony of the 1956 Olympic Games at the Melbourne Cricket
Ground.
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