A day to remember for Sydneysiders

By Our Special Correspondent

SYDNEY, SEPT. 15. ``I was there.'' These three little words are going to be repeated often in days, weeks, months and years to follow by each of the fortunate ones present at Stadium Australia on this spectacular Friday evening.

For the Sydneysiders, the possession of a ticket to the Opening Ceremony was nothing short of a ``status symbol.'' Those who managed it with varying degrees of difficulty over the past year or so, were envied by those who couldn't.

Those who made it are going to share their experience with pride and joy. Those being told are going to feel miserable all over again - more so after what the world witnessed on the first evening of the 27th Olympic Games of the modern era.

In fact, what one saw at the Darling Harbour precinct on Thursday evening reflected what the Australians thought of the torch-relay nearing its destination. The street party followed the ``travelling festival'' much after the last of the fire-works over the Harbour Bridge was seen and cheered by a few millions.

But being at the Opening Ceremony was far more special. Special because it may take another generation to pass before the Games come Down Under again. It took 44 years for the Games to return to Australia. The seven-year wait after winning the bid was a bit too long. Now, the wait has finally ended. The fun has finally begun.

But spare a thought for all those who worked long hours for years to make the Opening ceremony a sight to behold, a tale to tell and an experience to share. Repeatedly.

Did you know that 12,600 people performed this evening with those behind the scenes numbering another 4,600, crew and volunteers put together? Around 11,600 athletes and officials from 199 countries paraded before a packed house, making it the biggest congregation of athletes from around the globe.

For those who marvelled at the special effects, costumes, choreography etc, here are some facts: Around 99 tonnes of lighting and power equipment was used this evening. The length of the cables used could cover 111,169 metres. From 15 locations around the Stadium, 7,000 individual pyrotechnic effects were launched.

It took Costume Supervisor Paula Ryan and her staff of 100, more than 100,000 hours to create 15,000 costumes, needing over a quarter of a million sequins, 150,000 metres of fabric and 2,000 litres of paint.

The ground cloth, which covered all the Stadium's field of play, was around 23,000 square metres in area and perhaps, the world's largest painted mural. Perhaps, for the first time in history of Olympic Opening Ceremony, the spectators became part-performers. It was possible because for each of the 110,000

ticket-holders, a `Globite's style case - in typical Aussie-gold shade - was kept on the seats. What was called the ``Audience Participation Kit'' contained the official programme and pin, a torch and a cheer-strap, with the last two mentioned to be used at specific instructions.

The opening sequence, with 120 riders from the Australian Stock Horse Society, was the largest ``musical ride''choreographed in history, claim organisers.

The ``Deep Sea Dreaming'' was the largest aerial performance ever. It was during this performance that the world saw 13-year- old Nikki Webster being thrown all around the sky. Nikki, a student of McDonald College here, stayed hung for nearly seven minutes, while she was pretending to swim in a tropical sea surrounded by exotic fish.

Nikki, who has been performing since she was five, was not allowed to share even with her parents regarding her ``role'' in the Opening Ceremony. ``They kept asking me and I told them, would you believe it if I tell you?'' was how Nikki narrated her predicament after the ceremony. ``They were lucky to get the tickets and when I met them after the show, my mother cried and so did dad. They were so excited,'' said Nikki giggling away.

Following her performance, Nikki is sure to invite global envy of those in her age-group. She certainly emerged as the star of the evening. And it was acknowledged by none other than Olivia-Newton John.

``I think she was just great tonight,'' were the words of Olivia who rendered ``Dare to dream'' in the company of John Farnham later in the show. Olivia, who starred opposite John Travolta in the 1978 mega-hit Grease and rose to instant fame, is known to have a special place for children and has also co- authored a book for them.

The suspense over the final torch-bearer of the 100- day relay culminated with seven women carrying the torch on its final leg. The choice of women taking the torch to the cauldron was made to mark 100 years of their participation in the Olympics.

Finally, the sight of Cathy Freeman, standing in water and surrounded by fire, was the most fitting finale to the show. Enough reasons for those present to say again and again... ``I was there.''

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