Summary

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/1099 IN_TIME: 07:42:53 - 09:04:13 // 12:18:02 LENGTH: 02:56 SOURCES: All APTN except shots 1- 20 = CH 9 RESTRICTIONS: FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: English/Nat XFA Sydney is braced for a crowd of as large as two million people, stretching from the Homebush Olympics site to the famous Opera House, for the closing ceremonies and fireworks extravaganza. Australia's outstanding success in hosting the Games will finish with a bang - with the largest pyrotechnic show ever attempted. On Sunday people from all over the country gathered in Sydney to revel in the spectacle, filling up most of the main sites before the final event of the Olympics, the marathon, was completed. From the fields of play to Sydney's magnificent harbour, Australia and the world's athletes said goodbye on Sunday to two weeks of sporting triumphs and doping embarrassments. It was a memorable Summer Olympics eager to claim the title of "best games ever." Basking in two weeks of Olympic glow, Australians streamed into downtown for a pyrotechnic treat... an 8.5-mile "fuse" carrying fireworks along barges from Olympic Park across Homebush Bay to the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge for an explosion of light. They call it the "River of Lightning." From the moment the men's marathon competitors ran into the stadium, marking the symbolic end of competition and freeing the stadium for 10,000 athletes to swarm in the party was on. Australia expended great effort showing itself to the world during these Olympics to help visitors, and a TV audience of billions, understand that the world's southernmost continent is more than kangaroos and boomerangs. But, mindful of the tourism dollar, it also recognises that pop-culture images still sell and sell well. To that end, such modern talents as Midnight Oil, Men at Work, Kylie Minogue and Savage Garden were enlisted to entertain the world for the closing ceremony. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think it's gonna be the definition of extravagant." SUPER CAPTION: Darren Hayes, Savage Garden Even experienced performers said they were daunted by the ceremony ahead. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I've never done anything like this before. I'm wildly excited. I'm a little bit nervous." SUPER CAPTION: Kylie Minogue, Pop singer Other participants fall into the category of Australian icons. They will ride around the stadium on floats in a bid to remind foreigners of Australia's contribution to international celebrity. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I don't know why. I woke up this morning with the biggest anxiety attack, like I'm gonna fall off my float." SUPER CAPTION: Elle MacPherson, Model/Actress Another icon, an unlikely choice in Slim Dusty, was worried about an image not so well-known outside Australia. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I'll have to glue the hat down, because if the hat goes, well it's not me." SUPER CAPTION: Slim Dusty, Folk Singer One icon was not so worried about his own performance, but that of the Olympic Committee President. SOUNDBITE: (English) "If that Juan Samaranch guy doesn't say it's the best ever, then you know he's a dunce." SUPER CAPTION: Paul Hogan, Actor The ceremony was broadcast live on 16 giant screens across Sydney and Australia. It enlisted two Royal Air Force F-111s, fireworks artists from five continents, seven thousand performers and the parade of Australian icons. More than five thousand tickets remained unsold less than 24 hours before the closing ceremony was to begin. These were made available for free on a first come-first served basis to the 46,000 volunteers who served the Games. The high price, 1,350 Australian dollars (about U-S 725 dollars ), has been blamed for scaring off some potential buyers. Others figured they'd have more fun down at the Opera House and Harbour bridge. Those here at the main Olympic site had nothing but gushes of praise for their Sydney experience. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It's just a good way to finish off celebrating I think for two weeks. It's been a pretty fantastic two weeks. So you've got to go off with a bang I think." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop SOUNDBITE: (English) "I'm very sad. There will be tears shed. Cry, cry." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop SOUNDBITE: (English) "The Australian people are fantastic. The volunteers have been great. The games have been great, just the rivalry, everything. Everything's just been wonderful." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop Sydney passes the baton to Athens, Greece, which will host the Games in 2004. There has been speculation that Athens, which has been criticised for being way behind in preparation, could lose their role if certain criteria aren't met soon. Talk has centered on holding the event in Sydney again if such a crisis arose. Sydney Olympic organisers seem happy to say goodbye to their central role in pulling off the Games, though, relieved that all that could go wrong didn't. Most didn't want to praise the Games' success too lavishly until the final events were all completed. But people all over town, and especially down near the Harbour bridge, where the fireworks would reach their conclusion, soaked up as much of the waning fun as possible. Families paraded around the area, jumping on rides and eating and drinking eagerly. Monday promises a well-earned hangover, and memories of a special Olympic experience. SHOTLIST: Sydney, Australia - October 1, 2000 Channel 9 1. Aerial of crowds gathering at Opera house 2. Crowds 3. Opera house 4. Various aerials of crowds 5. Darling Harbour 6. Bridge 7. Crowds 8. Aboriginal musician 9. Various people arriving 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Darren Hayes, Savage Garden 11. Singer Kylie Minogue setup shot 12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Kylie Minogue, Pop singer 13. Various Elle MacPherson arriving 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Elle MacPherson, Model/Actress 15. Man arriving 16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Slim Dusty, Singer 17. Actor Paul Hogan arriving 18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Paul Hogan, Actor 19. Volunteers take pictures with stars 20. Elle MacPherson with volunteers APTN 21. Crowds people at Homebush Olympic site 22. Man walking with 'Tickets Wanted' sign 23. Pan from Olympic rings logo to people 24. Various crowds 25. Man with loudspeaker 26. People arriving 27. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox pop 28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox pop 29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox pop 30. Man with flag coming out of his back pack 31. Woman with pass around her neck 32. Crowds 33. People at merry-go-round 34. Merry-go-round spinning 35. People sailing on boat into harbour for show ?