By
the
time
the
5.5
million
tickets
to
the
2000
Olympic
Games
go
on
sale
in
1999,
Sydney
will
be
ready
to
bask
in
the
glare
of
the
international
spotlight.
The
staging
of
the
Games
of
the
XXVII
Olympiad,
to
be
held
from
September
15
to
October
1,
2000
(Paralympics
October
21
to
November
1),
will
not
only
highlight
the
spectacular
Games
facilities
that
Sydney
will
provide,
but
the
Games
will
be
an
unprecedented
opportunity
for
Sydney
and
the
rest
of
Australia
to
display
to
the
world
the
vibrant
and
culturally
rich
nation
that
we
have
become.
Sydney
is
setting
the
pace
in
the
lead-up
to
the
Games
with
a
focus
on
giving
visitors
to
Sydney
and
New
South
Wales
truly
memorable
experiences.
Since
winning
the
bid
in
September
1993,
construction
has
been
underway
to
create
the
world's
best
sporting
facilities,
as
well
as
new
and
better
attractions,
a
streamlined
infrastructure,
transport
links,
parks,
services
and
technology
that
will
serve
Sydney
well
beyond
2000.
More
than
A$1
billion
in
development
is
earmarked
for
central
Sydney
area
alone
by
2000.
Some
of
expected
benefits
to
Sydney
include
a
new
rail
link
between
the
city
and
the
airport;
expanded
facilities
at
Sydney
Airport;
expanded
ferry
network;
inner
urban
renewal
projects;
and
CBD
retail
renewal
projects.
As
Sydney
will
need
an
extra
5600
hotel
rooms
-
the
equivalent
of
10
new
large
hotels
-
major
new
hotel
projects
have
been
earmarked
for
the
city,
including
Darling
Harbour,
East
Circular
Quay,
Wooiloomooloo
Finger
Wharf,
Sydney
Casino,
the
Grace
Bros
CBD
department
store,
the
World
Square
CBD
site
and
the
Homebush
Bay
Olympic
area.
The
2000
Olympics
will
not
only
fast-track
Sydney
as
one
of
the
world's
great
destinations,
it
will
also
translate
into
more
high-yield
arrivals.
An
extra
6.3
million
international
tourists
will
arrive
in
Sydney
during
the
Games
and
as
a
spin-off
from
the
focus
of
attention
on
the
State,
tourist
numbers
are
expected
to
increase
to
7.6
million
by
2003.
The
Games
will
take
place
at
venues
within
30
minutes
travel
from
the
Olympic
Village
and
main
stadium
at
Homebush
Bay,
just
14
kilometres
west
of
the
city
centre.
For
the
first
time
in
Olympic
history
all
athletes
will
live
together
in
one
village
near
the
main
events.
An
extensive
network
of
trains,
buses,
ferries,
water
taxis,
light
rail
and
monorail
will
guarantee
fast
and
trouble-free
transport
to
the
Games
venues
for
the
many
thousands
of
spectators.
In
the
years
leading
up
to
the
Games,
visitors
to
Sydney
can
take
a
Homebush
Bay
Olympic
Site
Guided
Tour
to
view
the
redevelopment
of
this
massive
riverside
site.
The
tour
takes
in
the
State
Sports
Centre,
Bicentennial
Park,
Athletic
and
Aquatic
Centres,
as
well
as
the
proposed
Olympic
Village,
Stadium
(80,000
seats)
and
Velodrome.
The
unique
design
of
the
Homebush
Bay
site
is
being
developed
in
consultation
with
Greenpeace
and
other
environmental
groups
to
showcase
Australian
environmental
technology
and
ensure
the
2000
Games
are
environmentally
friendly.
Issues
being
addressed
during
the
construction
and
development
of
the
site
include
biodiversity,
ozone
depletion,
air/water/soil
pollution,
energy
efficiency,
recycling,
and
the
preservation
of
the
Homebush
Bay
wetlands.
Some
of
the
tourism
benefits
Sydney,
New
South
Wales
and
Australia
will
enjoy
in
the
lead-up
to
the
Games
include:
-
Extra
2.1
million
international
tourists
expected
by
2004
-
representing
a
A$4
billion
boost
to
tourism
-
During
the
2
weeks
of
the
games,
300,000
visitors,
30
cruise
ships
and
15,000
media
representatives
will
be
here.
-
A
major
boost
for
the
conventions,
incentives
and
events
industries
-
Unprecedented
exposure
and
enhancement
of
the
profile
of
Sydney,
New
South
and
Australia
on
the
world
stage
-
A
new
and
improved
infrastructure
for
tourism
both
before
and
after
the
Games
-
Closer
links
with
the
world
travel
industry
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION,
CONTACT:
Tourism
New
South
Wales,
140
George
Street,
The
Rocks,
Sydney
2000.
Tel:
(02)
931
1111;
Fax:
~02)
9311490.
Sydney
Organising
Committee
for
the
Olympic
Games
(SOCOG)
Tel:
(02)
931
2000.
Or
visit
the
Sydney
Olympics
Web
Site
at
Sydney
2000
Olympic
Games
