Description

The 2000 Summer Olympics, also known as Sydney 2000 or the Millennium Olympic Games, took place from September 15 to October 1, 2000, in Sydney, Australia. It was the second time Australia hosted the Summer Olympics and the first in the Southern Hemisphere since Melbourne in 1956.

Sydney won the bid to host the 2000 Games in 1993. Teams from 199 countries participated, competing in over 300 events. The United States led the medal tally, followed by Russia and China, with Australia in fourth place. Several countries, including Cameroon and Colombia, won their first gold medals, while others like Barbados and Saudi Arabia won their first-ever Olympic medals.

Sydney's organization, volunteers, and sportsmanship received universal praise from the international media. The Times called it "one of the most successful events on the world stage," and the Electronic Telegraph hailed it as a benchmark for future Olympics. The success of the Sydney Games influenced London's bid for the 2012 Olympics, with Lord Coe citing them as a benchmark for the spirit of the Games.