The Role of the Sydney Opera House during 2000 Olympic Games

The Role of the Sydney Opera House during 2000 Olympic Games

Major Olympics and related events staged at the Sydney Opera House included the International Olympic Committee Opening Ceremony, Olympic Torch Relay, men’s and women’s triathlon events, yachting medal presentations and the closing night fireworks viewing.

Between 18 August and 30 September the Sydney Opera House hosted 293 Festival performances and events which attracted some 201,924 people.

Festival events showcased Australian performing arts and featured the Sydney Opera House’s regular presenters, including the Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare Company, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, not to mention many other locally – and internationally - renowned presenters and artists.

The Sydney Opera House also collaborated with a range of new partners, including Company B Belvoir, the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and the Australian Theatre for Young People. The Festival included dance, visual arts, film, opera, theatre, literature and music by local and international presenters.

On Friday, 20 September, changeovers were being made simultaneously in all five of the Sydney Opera House’s major venues. Despite these demands all Festival schedules and requirements were met.

To ensure that the Sydney Opera House was prepared for the Olympics and able to respond to the large number of events and visitors, an organisation-wide training program was put in place. It included whole-of-organisation information briefings and specific sessions on staff reassignment, customer service, disability awareness,

crisis management and media awareness.

The Sydney Opera House hosted the performance and recording of their contributions to the Olympic  Games’ Opening and Closing ceremonies. A facility connecting 60 microphones in the Concert Hall to seven audio consoles in the temporary studio was set up specifically to record the performances.

The sessions went so smoothly that ARIA, Sony Music and BMG presented the Sydney Opera House with a special award for its contribution to ”the biggest recording project ever undertaken in Australia.” Reaching “Double Platinum” over 170,000 copies of the recordings were sold.

Highlights during the 2000 year included major new productions, significant appearances by internationally acclaimed Australian singers and debuts by major international artists.

Some 17 different opera productions were performed including participation in the Olympic Arts Festival with Simon Boccanegra, Capriccio, Don Giovanni, Tosca and Opera and Ballet Gala with Sylvie Guillem.

Finally, the Sydney Opera House’s contribution to the success of the Sydney 2000 Olympics was extensive. It played a pivotal role in bringing together entertainment, sport and the community. It was the time of great excitement as the Sydney Opera House rolled out its new programming initiatives.