Torch

The design of the torch reflected three famed areas of Australian culture: the boomerang, the Sydney Opera House, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The concept also reflected the elements of earth, fire, and water.^[1][2] This was achieved across three layers of the torch. The first, inner layer contains the fuel system and combustor, the second contains the fuel canister, and the outer layer is a specially textured aluminium shell. A combination of copper, brass, aluminium, and stainless steel was used in its construction, and the fuel comprised 65 percent butane and 35 percent propane. In total, 14,000 torches were produced.^[2] The distance covered by each torchbearer was 105.478 km.

Torchbearers

A total of 13,400 torch-bearers were involved in the relay. The Greek leg of the route saw 800 people carry the torch, while 1,500 people were involved across Oceania. As part of the vast traversal of Australia, 11,000 people carried the torch within the country.^[3]

The first Australian torch-bearer was Sophie Gosper, the daughter of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice-President Kevan Gosper. Her selection caused considerable controversy with accusations of corruption directed at the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC). Greek-Australian Yianna Souleles was originally due to receive the torch in Olympia but was replaced at late notice by Gosper. Kevan Gosper accepted the invitation for his daughter to carry the torch while claiming to be unaware that this would make her the first Australian to have the honour.^[4]

The HOC's invitation was seen as an attempt to carry favour with the IOC after being warned that its delays put the planned 2004 Olympics (scheduled to be held in Greece) in jeopardy.^[5] Gosper's acceptance of the invitation was portrayed by the media as being nepotistic and inappropriate, with Australian politicians, Olympic athletes, and officials from various Olympic Committees condemning the move. Gosper initially defended his actions but would go on to make a public apology, claiming that fatherly pride had clouded his judgement. He gave up his role in the relay at the Melbourne Cricket Ground despite having previously described it as "the most important moment of my life since I won a silver medal [there]".^[4]

Route

The Flame was lit during a ceremony in Olympia, as has been tradition at all the Summer Games since those in 1936. The Flame is initiated by using a parabolic mirror that concentrates the sun's rays. However, due to some cloud cover on the day of the ceremony, there was insufficient sunlight to create the required level of heat. A backup, lit on the previous day during rehearsals, was used instead. The remainder of the ceremony could then take place.^[1]

The relay always begins in Greece and travels from Olympia to Athens and the Panathenaic Stadium. The Hellenic Olympic Committee arranged for the torch to be taken to several Greek islands, a first in the history of Olympic relays. The torch arrived in Athens on 20 May, after which it began a tour of Oceania. The Flame was flown firstly to Guam, before moving to Palau, Micronesia, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and New Zealand. The relay had been scheduled to visit Fiji, but the country was omitted due to ongoing government instability at that time.^[1]

After the island tour the Flame arrived in Australia on 8 June. The relay was an extensive journey around the country, involving 11,000 torch-bearers and a variety of modes of transport. On 27 June the Flame was taken underwater, a first in the history of torch relays. Marine biologist Wendy Craig Duncan carried a special version of the torch for a three-minute trip around Agincourt Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef popular with divers. The torch was modified to carry a specially designed flare that would burn at 2,000 degrees Celsius underwater while remaining as aesthetically similar to the normal flame as possible.^[6]

Route in Greece

May 10 (day 1)

• Olympia, Pyrgos, Amaliada, Tripoli

May 20 (day 2)

• Athens

May 20 (day 3)

• Panathenaic Stadium

Route in Oceania (Pacific Islands)

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Date

Map

May 22 (day 1): Hagåtña, Guam May 23 (day 2): Koror, Palau May 24 (day 3): Palikir, Federated States of Micronesia May 25 (day 4): Yaren, Nauru May 26 (day 5): Honiara, Solomon Islands May 27 (day 6): Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea May 28 (day 7): Port Vila, Vanuatu May 29 (day 8): Apia, Samoa May 30 (day 9): Pago Pago, American Samoa May 31 (day 10): Avarua, Cook Islands June 2 (day 11): Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

Hagåtña Koror Palikir Yaren Honiara Port Moresby Port Vila Apia Pago Pago Avarua Nukuʻalofa

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Route in New Zealand

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Date	Map
June 5 (day 12): Queenstown June 5 (day 12): Christchurch June 6 (day 13): Wellington June 7 (day 14): Rotorua June 7 (day 14): Auckland	Queenstown Christchurch Wellington Rotorua Auckland

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Route in Australia

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Date	Map
June 8 (day 1): Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park June 8 (day 1): Yulara June 8 (day 1): Alice Springs	Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Yulara Alice Springs
June 9 (day 2): Mount Isa June 10 (day 3): Longreach June 10 (day 3): Toowoomba June 11 (day 4): Warwick June 11 (day 4): Coolangatta June 12 (day 5): Southport June 12 (day 5): Woodridge June 13 (day 6): Nathan June 13 (day 6): Ipswich June 14 (day 7): Mount Coot-tha June 14 (day 7)): Brisbane June 15 (day 8): Redcliffe June 15 (day 8): Bokarina June 16 (day 9): Nambour June 16 (day 9): Tewantin June 17 (day 10): Cherbourg June 17 (day 10): Kingaroy June 18 (day 11): Maryborough June 18 (day 11): Hervey Bay June 19 (day 12): Bundaberg June 20 (day 13): Gladstone June 20 (day 13): Rockhampton June 21 (day 14): Blackwater June 21 (day 14): Emerald June 22 (day 15): Moranbah June 22 (day 15): Mackay June 23 (day 16): Proserpine June 23 (day 16): Airlie Beach June 24 (day 17): Ayr June 24 (day 17): Townsville June 25 (day 18): Tully June 25 (day 18): Innisfail June 26 (day 19): Atherton June 26 (day 19): Cairns June 27 (day 20): Port Douglas June 28 (day 21): Thursday Island	Mount Isa Longreach Toowoomba Warwick Coolangatta Brisbane Tewantin Cherbourg Kingaroy Maryborough Bundaberg Gladstone Rockhampton Blackwater Emerald Moranbah Mackay Airlie Beach Ayr Townsville Tully Innisfail Atherton Cairns Port Douglas Thursday Island
June 28 (day 21): Katherine June 29 (day 22): Kakadu National Park June 29 (day 22): Nguiu June 29 (day 22): Darwin	Katherine Kakadu National Park Nguiu Darwin
June 30 (day 23): Kununurra Airport June 30 (day 23): Broome July 1 (day 24): Port Hedland Airport July 1 (day 24): Karratha Airport July 1 (day 24): Carnarvon July 2 (day 25): Geraldton July 2 (day 25): Albany July 3 (day 26): Walpole-Nornalup National Park July 3 (day 26): Manjimup July 4 (day 27): Busselton July 4 (day 27): Bunbury July 5 (day 28): Pinjarra July 5 (day 28): Mandurah July 6 (day 29): Rockingham July 6 (day 29): Fremantle July 7 (day 30): Joondalup July 8 (day 31): Nedlands July 8 (day 31): Victoria Park July 9 (day 32): York July 9 (day 32): Northam July 10 (day 33): Merredin July 10 (day 33): Kalgoorlie	Kununurra Airport Broome Port Hedland Airport Karratha Airport Carnarvon Geraldton Albany Walpole-Nornalup National Park Manjimup Busselton Bunbury Pinjarra Mandurah Rockingham Fremantle Joondalup York Northam Merredin Kalgoorlie
July 11 (day 34): Journey aboard the Indian Pacific
July 12 (day 35): Port Lincoln July 12 (day 35): Port Pirie July 13 (day 36): Clare July 13 (day 36): Tanunda July 14 (day 37): Gawler July 14 (day 37): Tea Tree Gully July 15 (day 38): Glenelg July 15 (day 38): Adelaide July 16 (day 39): Hahndorf July 16 (day 39): Murray Bridge July 17 (day 40): Bordertown July 17 (day 40): Naracoorte July 18 (day 41): Naracoorte Caves July 18 (day 41): Penola July 18 (day 41): Mount Gambier	Port Lincoln Port Pirie Clare Tanunda Gawler Adelaide Hahndorf Murray Bridge Bordertown Naracoorte Penola Mount Gambier
July 19 (day 42): Hamilton July 19 (day 42): Portland July 20 (day 43): Port Fairy July 20 (day 43): Warrnambool July 21 (day 44): Port Campbell July 21 (day 44): Colac July 22 (day 45): Camperdown July 22 (day 45): Ararat July 23 (day 46): Stawell July 23 (day 46): Horsham July 24 (day 47): St Arnaud July 24 (day 47): Swan Hill July 25 (day 48): Kerang July 25 (day 48): Echuca July 26 (day 49): Kyabram July 26 (day 49): Shepparton July 27 (day 50): Bendigo July 27 (day 50): Maryborough July 28 (day 51): Castlemaine July 28 (day 51): Ballarat July 29 (day 52): Geelong July 29 (day 52): Flemington July 30 (day 53): Banyule July 30 (day 53): Monash University July 31 (day 54): Melbourne	Hamilton Portland Port Fairy Port Campbell Colac Camperdown Ararat Stawell Horsham St Arnaud Swan Hill Kerang Echuca Kyabram Shepparton Bendigo Maryborough Castlemaine Ballarat Geelong Flemington Banyule Melbourne
July 31 (day 54): Journey aboard the Spirit of Tasmania
August 1 (day 55): Burnie August 1 (day 55): Queenstown August 2 (day 56): Glenorchy August 3 (day 57): Kingston August 3 (day 57): Hobart August 4 (day 58): Campbell Town August 4 (day 58): Launceston August 5 (day 59): Deloraine	Burnie Queenstown Glenorchy Kingston Hobart Campbell Town Launceston Deloraine
August 5 (day 59): Journey aboard the Spirit of Tasmania
August 7 (day 61): Berwick August 7 (day 61): Morwell August 8 (day 62): Sale August 8 (day 62): Bairnsdale August 9 (day 63): Moe August 9 (day 63): Warragul August 10 (day 64): Emerald August 10 (day 64): Healesville August 11 (day 65): Alexandra August 11 (day 65): Seymour August 12 (day 66): Benalla August 12 (day 66): Wangaratta August 13 (day 67): Bright August 13 (day 67): Mount Hotham	Berwick Morwell Sale Bairnsdale Moe Warragul Emerald Healesville Alexandra Seymour Benalla Wangaratta Bright Mount Hotham
August 14 (day 68): Albury August 15 (day 69): Finley August 15 (day 69): Griffith August 16 (day 70): Narrandera August 16 (day 70): Wagga Wagga August 17 (day 71): Cootamundra August 17 (day 71): Cowra August 18 (day 72): West Wyalong August 18 (day 72): Parkes August 19 (day 73): Mildura August 19 (day 73): Broken Hill August 20 (day 74): Bourke August 20 (day 74): Moree August 21 (day 75): Inverell August 21 (day 75): Armidale August 22 (day 76): Glen Innes August 22 (day 76): Tenterfield August 23 (day 77): Lismore August 23 (day 77): Ballina August 24 (day 78): Grafton August 24 (day 78): Coffs Harbour August 25 (day 79): Kempsey August 25 (day 79): Port Macquarie August 26 (day 80): Taree August 26 (day 80): Forster August 27 (day 81): Raymond Terrace August 27 (day 81): Newcastle August 28 (day 82): Speers Point August 28 (day 82): Gosford August 29 (day 83): Wyong August 29 (day 83): Cessnock August 30 (day 84): Maitland August 30 (day 84): Muswellbrook August 31 (day 85): Quirindi August 31 (day 85): Tamworth September 1 (day 86): Coonabarabran September 1 (day 86): Dubbo September 2 (day 87): Orange September 2 (day 87): Bathurst September 3 (day 88): Katoomba September 3 (day 88): Penrith September 4 (day 89): Campbelltown September 4 (day 89): Bowral September 5 (day 90): Goulburn	Albury Finley Griffith Narrandera Wagga Wagga Cootamundra Cowra West Wyalong Parkes Mildura Broken Hill Bourke Moree Inverell Armidale Glen Innes Tenterfield Lismore Ballina Grafton Coffs Harbour Kempsey Port Macquarie Taree Forster Raymond Terrace Newcastle Gosford Wyong Maitland Muswellbrook Quirindi Tamworth Coonabarabran Dubbo Orange Bathurst Penrith Campbelltown Bowral Goulburn
September 5 (day 90): Canberra September 6 (day 91): Belconnen September 6 (day 91): Phillip	Canberra Belconnen Phillip
September 7 (day 92): Cooma September 7 (day 92): Thredbo September 8 (day 93): Merimbula September 8 (day 93): Bega September 9 (day 94): Narooma September 9 (day 94): Batemans Bay September 10 (day 95): Nowra September 10 (day 95): Kiama September 11 (day 96): Wollongong	Cooma Thredbo Merimbula Bega Narooma Batemans Bay Nowra Kiama Wollongong
September 11 (day 96): Cronulla September 12 (day 97): Liverpool September 12 (day 97): Parramatta September 13 (day 98): Pennant Hills September 13 (day 98): Hunters Hill September 14 (day 99): La Perouse September 14 (day 99): Sydney September 15 (day 100): Manly September 15 (day 100): Sydney Olympic Park September 15 (day 100): Olympic Stadium	Cronulla Liverpool Parramatta Pennant Hills Hunters Hill La Perouse Sydney Manly Sydney Olympic Park (Olympic Stadium)

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Lighting of the cauldron

The Australian middle distance gold-medallist Herb Elliott carried the torch into Stadium Australia and passed it on to the final runners. The final succession of torch-bearers were selected to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of female participation in the Olympic Games^[7] (women were not allowed to compete at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics but were given the opportunity in 1900).^[8] Betty Cuthbert, Raelene Boyle, Dawn Fraser, Shirley Strickland, Shane Gould, and Debbie Flintoff-King, all medallists in previous Games, were given the honour of carrying the Flame before passing it to the final torch-bearer.^[7]

The cauldron was lit by Aboriginal athlete Cathy Freeman, a decision that was at the time reported as being a "bold political and social statement".^[7] Freeman was the first competing athlete to light the Olympic cauldron.^[9][10] Two elements from the torch concept, fire and water, were replicated in the design of the cauldron. Freeman stood atop a pool of water and lit a flame that surrounded her. Though a computer glitch delayed proceedings for a few minutes the Flame then lifted around Freeman.^[11][12]

The ten-year anniversary of the Games was celebrated in a special ceremony in 2010. Cathy Freeman and Paralympic champion Louise Sauvage (who was the final torchbearer at the Paralympic Games) lit the cauldron during an event attended by numerous athletes and school students.^[13] The twenty-year anniversary of the Games was celebrated in a special ceremony in 2020. The cauldron was re-lit by two up-and-coming athletes; Indigenous basketballer Tenayah Logan and teenage Paralympian Tamsin Colley. It was attended by Ian Thorpe, Louise Sauvage and local Sydneysiders who were volunteers during the games. Freeman sent a video message.^[14]