Cathy Freeman surrounded by fire and water, John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John singing together and a stadium packed with athletes from around the globe. For Australians of a certain age, September 15, 2000 is hard to forget.
On this day 26 years ago, the Sydney Olympic Games officially opened.
More than 12,000 performers took part in an opening ceremony designed to tell Australia’s story, from its Indigenous heritage and landscape to immigration and suburban life.
There were stockmen thundering into the stadium on horseback, a giant lawnmower, Nikki Webster floating above the arena and John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John performing Dare to Dream.
Then came the moment everyone remembers.
Cathy Freeman, dressed in a white bodysuit, walked through water and used the Olympic torch to ignite a ring of fire around her. The cauldron rose spectacularly above her before eventually taking its place high above the stadium.
On September 15, 1940, the Luftwaffe launched two major attacks on London.
Hundreds of RAF fighters met the German formations in what became regarded as the climax of the Battle of Britain.
The resistance helped convince German commanders that the RAF had not been defeated. Two days later, Hitler postponed plans for the invasion of Britain.
September 15 has since become known as Battle of Britain Day.
On this day in 1984, Prince Harry was born at St Mary’s Hospital in London, the second son of Charles and Diana.
Now 42, the Duke of Sussex’s life has unfolded very differently from anyone watching those first pictures of the newborn prince could possibly have imagined.
Along with Prince Harry, Tommy Lee Jones was born on September 15, 1946.
The famously straight-faced Texan became one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors, winning an Academy Award for his performance as relentless US Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive.
SA60 readers will also know him from Men in Black, JFK, Coal Miner’s Daughter, No Country for Old Men and Lincoln. Remarkably, Jones was also Al Gore’s roommate at Harvard before either man became famous.
And another acclaimed filmmaker shares his birthday. Oliver Stone was born on exactly the same day in 1946, later directing films including Platoon, Wall Street and Born on the Fourth of July.
Did you watch the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony? What moment has stayed with you… Cathy lighting the cauldron, Nikki Webster, the horses, Farnham and Olivia, or something else entirely?
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