Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (17:01): I move:
That this House:
(1)Celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games.
(2)Notes that former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch declared it as "the best Olympic Games ever".
(3)Celebrates the Australian Olympians, who won 58 medals, and Paralympians, who won 149 medals.
(4)Thanks the volunteers and the people of New South Wales who helped make the games such a great success.
(5)Acknowledges the naming of the Eastern Grandstand at the Olympic Stadium as the Cathy Freeman Stand.
It is a great honour to contribute to this public interest debate. I do not know if I can table a Paralympic silver medal. This genuine medal from the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games has the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and lots of other beautiful things about Sydney on it. It is quite a privilege to talk about the games that shattered history on every single level. I am a little bit biased. My colleagues will speak a little bit more about the Olympics, but it has been 25 years since the Sydney Paralympic Games and since a lot of hard work went into winning that round piece of metal. The medal got a bit dinged at the party afterwards. I will speak a little bit more about that later. There are members in the Chamber who were at the games. The thing about being involved in Sydney 2000 is that everybody who participated in that games is touched by warmth and an amazing memory, because it changed our city forever. The city stopped and turned into a space of joy.
We created such an amazing opportunity at the Paralympics. I had the privilege of competing in Barcelona, where the Australian women's wheelchair basketball team came seventh. I also competed in Atlanta, where the Australian women's wheelchair basketball team came fourth. It was amazing being part of a team. I was also part of the joy at 4.27 in the morning. I was a teacher, and I told my boss that I would not be at work that day. I was in no position to be at work. I was at a party in Circular Quay with hundreds of thousands of people when they announced that the winner was Sydney. It was phenomenal. I was meant to do a radio interview across town, but there was no way I could possibly get there.
As Paralympians, we knew the journey that we were on for the next seven years to educate a city about what the Paralympic Games is all about. It was phenomenal. We had an education program. In Barcelona and Atlanta, hardly anyone came to watch. At Sydney 2000, we had a ticketing program and an education program that went out to schools across New South Wales. That taught the kids about the games and about people with disabilities. The tickets were $20. For the first time ever—it makes me cry—Paralympians played in front of packed houses. There were kids everywhere and there was so much joy. Instead of saying, "What's wrong with that lady?" they said, "What sport does that person play?"
The member for Drummoyne has just entered the Chamber; she was five years old back then. I am showing my age. That attitude shift is the young people coming through. Previously, people my age with physical disabilities went to special schools, whereas now we are in an integrated school system. Members of this generation are the employees of today and the employers of the future. The shapeshifting that went on because of the Paralympic Games made Sydney accessible in a way we had never known before. The way we harnessed the capacity of the transport system at that time to move people across the city was absolutely phenomenal.
I have to speak about the volunteers. A lot of the volunteers volunteered for the Olympics and the Paralympics, and some volunteers volunteered only for the Paralympics. They still wear their uniform with pride. I still get together and have lunch with the Sydney volunteer teams on the odd occasion. I also have to speak about the accommodation. The member for Parramatta is in the Chamber. I lived in a donga out the back of a unit in Newington. That was my home for the week. I was squashed in with the other girls on the team. The food hall was a phenomenal place. People with no arms were using their feet to twirl spaghetti on a fork. It was out of control.
Living in the village was great. The quad rugby team got into the gold medal game. I did not have a ticket but I whizzed across in my wheelchair to try to get in. I opened up the door to the stadium and one of the able‑bodied volunteers I played basketball with smuggled me into the finals. There are so many exuberant memories. Another important thing about the games is that competing at a home games is on another level and was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was with Cathy Freeman at the Stadium Australia Hall of Fame last night. The magical moment of wheeling out for the opening ceremony at a home games and then wheeling out into that massive stadium, now the Accor Stadium, where we were sitting on the grounds with a symphony last night took my breath away. I will remember it for the rest of my life. It was out of control.
I have to talk a little about the Olympics. Cathy Freeman is phenomenal. Last night she said she knew the pressure was on her but she came into the stadium and heard nothing. There was complete silence. Ian Thorpe said that the wave of Cathy just whizzed around, and it was a wave of support for her. She said, "By the time I got to the last 80 metres, I felt like my legs weren't even touching the ground." It was a moment that stopped our nation. To be able to share that with Cathy last night, 25 years on, was amazing. Ian Thorpe is a phenomenal athlete. He won three gold medals. He said that his medals from the team sport were more important than his medals as an individual, because every single person in that team has to perform at their absolute best. I feel that way too. I am not taking credit away from individual athletes, but it is an honour to be part of a team. We got into the gold medal game, which was the ultimate dream after not medalling at the previous games.
The Premier at the time was Bob Carr. I also need to thank Michael Knight, who was the champion of the Olympic and Paralympic movement. When the Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, came into our dressing room before we went out to the gold medal game, we did not know what to do. Silver is not what athletes want to achieve. The Olympics and the Paralympics inspire a generation. I am addicted to wheelchair basketball. The first gold medal came 12 years later at the London games. The next gold medal after that came at the next Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Now I have ended up in this place, which is a whole new sport. What an honour to be in this House. What a fantastic time Sydney 2000 was.
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li): I thank the member for Gosford for a great contribution. She is a great Olympian and a great member of Parliament. I acknowledge in the gallery Peter Kernan and Victoria Miller, guests of the member for Castle Hill and the member for Terrigal. I understand that they are also friends of the member for Gosford.
Ms ELENI PETINOS (Miranda) (17:08): I acknowledge the member for Gosford for moving this motion. She is a five-time medal-winning Paralympian and in the year 2000 was part of the silver‑winning wheelchair basketball team. All members of this place are incredibly proud of her efforts. She too is a co‑chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Olympics and Paralympics and I am proud to share that role with her. How good were the Sydney 2000 Olympics? Yesterday marked 25 years since the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics. It was just a dream until then International Olympic Committee [IOC] president Juan Antonio Samaranch uttered the now famous words, "The winner is Sydney." That was met by former Liberal Premier John Fahey doing a jumping jack leap out of the chair, proving that the Liberals have always been the party of vision and hard work, with Labor coming through after to cut the ribbons.
We are all biased, being from New South Wales, but the 2000 Sydney Olympics stands as the brightest on Australia's sporting landscape in showcasing what Olympic sports can do for our communities, the State and the nation. As a nation, we all feel pride in our athletes when they wear the green and gold and represent our country. As the member for Gosford has said, some of those highlights from the 2000 Olympics include Cathy Freeman's historic gold medal in the 400 metres and her lighting of the Olympic cauldron; and Ian Thorpe's dominance in the swimming pool, winning gold medals in the 400-metre freestyle, 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x200-metre freestyle, as well as silver in the 200-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley.
At the Sydney Olympics, we were fourth in the overall medal count, winning a total of 58 medals—16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze—ranking only behind the United States, Russia and China. Given we were only a nation of 19.2 million people in 2000, it is safe to say that we were well and truly punching above our weight. Who can forget the great statement of truth from then IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, when he declared that Sydney was "the best Olympic Games ever"! Those words have not been uttered since. The Paralympic opening ceremony came on 18 October, with the incredible Louise Sauvage lighting the Paralympic cauldron. Australia topped the medal tally, winning 63 gold medals, 39 silver and 47 bronze. Ever since then, Sydney has been the yardstick for all subsequent Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our friends north of the border have a very hard act to follow.
That leads me to some important questions around what the Government is doing in developing a legacy strategy for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a matter of public record that, prior to the Games, it was estimated that the Olympics would generate about $6½ billion in economic activity over a 12‑year period. That was well and truly surpassed, with international media exposure alone valued at $6.1 billion. More than $1.2 billion worth of convention business happened in New South Wales between 1993 and 2007. One of the greatest legacies of the Sydney games is the world-class facilities in New South Wales. At the time they were the benchmark for, and then envy of, the rest of the world. Decades on, those facilities are still providing legacy outcomes, but if they are not maintained it will not be possible to continue their active use.
Here is a suggestion for Minister Kamper and the Minns Government: With just a modest investment in this State's Olympic sports facilities, we can ensure we are games-ready to steal events from Queensland in 2032. I am pretty sure that World Rowing and the IOC would not sign off on having the world's best rowers eaten by crocodiles in the Fitzroy River. To my knowledge, no-one has ever reported seeing crocs in the Nepean or at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, so there is one opportunity. If we do not invest money in maintaining our Olympics facility assets, then the Government will be trashing our legacy from 2000 and ensuring that we do not have one for 2032. And we want that.
Although twenty‑five years on, the Sydney Olympic Games will always have a special place in my heart and I am sure in the hearts of every member in this place, as they do for every Australian. We all remember Olly the kookaburra, Syd the platypus, Millie the echidna and the introduction of Lizzie the lizard, who not only was a mascot in 2000 but has become the official mascot of the Paralympic team since. As a young 14-year-old, I remember going to the athletics events with my family. I remember collecting the collectible coins with my grandfather, the enthusiasm of the volunteers and being inspired by every athlete who put on the green and gold for our country. I know in my lifetime I will never forget that experience. I remember seeing athletes like Ian Thorpe coming through the schools. I truly am proud of our legacy and to have an athlete in the Chamber with us, but I remind the Government of the need to invest in future pathways and infrastructure so that our State is not left behind.
Ms DONNA DAVIS (Parramatta) (17:14): I make a contribution to the public interest debate on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. We had big plans to join the throng at Circular Quay in the early hours of Friday 24 September 1993, awaiting the long-anticipated announcement. Sadly, I was nursing a fever and was lying on my couch instead. The roar could almost be heard from Randwick as Juan Antonio Samaranch announced, "And the winner is Sydney." From that moment, Sydney went into overdrive in preparation for what would be a city-shaping event. Today Sydney Olympic Park is one of the most thriving places in my electorate, but until the 1970s various chemical factories were still in operation. In the '80s, it was home to the State brickworks and abattoirs and a rubbish dump, until major remediation commenced in the '90s alongside the closure of the Department of Defence Newington depot. By 2000, the sporting infrastructure was in place for what would be declared "the best Olympic Games ever". Then a month later, on 16 October 2000, we were doubly blessed with the fantastic Sydney Paralympic Games, sealing the deal for not only the city but also New South Wales and Australia as a premier major sporting events destination.
Some 199 nations took part in Sydney 2000, which was a new Olympic Games record, as 3.7 billion people tuned in live worldwide to watch the Games in over 220 countries. The Australian team finished fourth in the Sydney 2000 Olympics medal table, behind only the United States of America, Russia and China. It was a sign that our domination in the pool had gone so much further and that Australia had arrived on the international sporting scene. The Paralympics team—with the member for Gosford—blitzed the competition, romping home at the top of the medal tally, upping the previous best of second place in Atlanta.
Like thousands of other Sydneysiders, I was swept up in the moment. Sydney had a buzz that had never been seen before and will possibly never be repeated. To those who thought they were the smart ones leaving town altogether, we know they were the losers because the vibe that the Olympics brought to every street across Sydney was simply electric. I remember walking down George Street and coming into Martin Place. Everybody would say hello and talk to each other. It was astounding. It was the most amazing and surreal feeling. I have never experienced anything like that in my life—except maybe when I enter the lifts at Parliament. The experience cannot be repeated.
Today the legacies of the best Olympic Games remain. The first legacy is the incredible individual and national sporting achievements recorded since 2000. That level of investment in our sports men and women put us in a good stead to break records and win medals in sports we had never ever dreamed of achieving in—from archery to beach volleyball, water polo to kayaking. The second legacy is Sydney Olympic Park. There is still more to do to continue to build on the potential of the site, but that sporting infrastructure is still with us today, providing venues for training, competition and events at the State, national and international level. Accor Stadium has a permanent reminder of the games since the Minns Labor Government recognised the incredible achievements of Cathy Freeman and her contributions to Australian sport by naming the eastern grandstand at Accor Stadium after her. The stadium holds a special place for Cathy Freeman. It is where she lit the Olympic flame in the opening ceremony and where, just 10 days later, she was cheered on by over 112,000 spectators as she claimed the 400‑metre individual gold.
Last night she was recognised with selection into the Australian sporting hall of fame. The third legacy is the volunteers and the people of New South Wales who helped make the Games such a great success. In 2000 we were renovating a house and our builder, Jim, from Baulkham Hills, had us on a tight deadline, because the house had to be finished before he started his time as a volunteer driver. He was so pumped. When he had finished volunteering, he showed us the photos; it was one of the proudest moments in his life. Twenty‑five years later we still see people walking around in their volunteer shirts. We had a young baby in 2000, but we put our money together to make it to just one event and that was to see Cathy Freeman. It was the only night it rained during the entire Olympics, but we were there at those finals to see her and Michael Johnson. To all those losers who went home because of the rain, we took their seats and sat in the front row.
Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne) (17:19): I support this wonderful motion moved by my good friend the member for Gosford celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games. The games were one of the proudest moments in the history of our State and in Australia's history. It started when former New South Wales Premier John Fahey leapt for joy at the announcement that Sydney was to be the host city for the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was the brainchild of a Liberal Premier with a vision to transform Sydney into the new millennium and beyond.
The Olympics transformed Sydney. It was one of the most successful games of all time. It brought our city to life and put us on the map in the international arena. On the world stage, we stepped up, showed off our home city and shared our values of mateship, dedication and teamwork with the world. I believe the success of the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games comes down to every single person in our State—the athletes, volunteers, organisers and spectators—uniting to showcase Sydney. On a personal note, as the member for Drummoyne, I am especially proud that my electorate was so close to the heart of the games at Sydney Olympic Park. The stadiums, pools and fields that were developed for the games remain an important part of our community and serve as a reminder of the games' legacy.
Many of those iconic facilities and stadiums were built and worked on by people living in my electorate, including my grandfather, who laid the tiles at Qudos Bank Arena, then known as the Sydney SuperDome, as well as Accor Stadium, then called Stadium Australia. Our community played host to the families of athletes and spectators, and we are so proud of that. I have a special affinity with the games. I was a just a young girl when the they were on, but I remember the buzz in Sydney. I have fond memories of my parents taking us to Olympic Park, and I remember waking up early as the cauldron runners made their way past my house in the early hours of the morning before the opening ceremony. It would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity to acknowledge Nikki Webster, who performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Nikki is a proud local of the inner west and graduated school from the McDonald College in my electorate. The Eras Tour may have come to Olympic Park in 2024, but Nikki was truly the Taylor Swift of our generation with herStrawberry Kisses.
The games meant that many of our athletes would go on to become household names in sport, inspiring future generations of young Aussie athletes. There was Ian Thorpe with his three gold and two silver medals and Grant Hackett with his monumental 1,500 metre swim. There was Madame Butterfly, Susie O'Neill. We had Louise Sauvage lighting the cauldron for the Paralympic Games and, of course, Cathy Freeman with her triumphant gold medal win in the 400 metre sprint. I am so glad to see her name at Accor Stadium every time I go there. She is an amazing inspiration to so many.
I also acknowledge one of our own in the member for Gosford. We are so proud of her. I was a young child when the Olympics were on, and I truly believe the legacy of the Sydney Games inspired a generation of kids to believe in themselves. They learned that no matter where you come from, who you are or what sport you play, if you believe in yourself, you too can represent Australia at a future Olympic and Paralympic Games. That is the legacy of Sydney 2000. Our Olympians won a total of 58 medals—16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze—securing fourth place for Australia in the overall medal tally. Equally inspiring were our Paralympic team, who took out the competition, securing a total of 147 medals, being 63 gold, 39 silver and 47 bronze.
Ms Liesl Tesch: Woo hoo!
Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA: I acknowledge that woo hoo. As we celebrate 25 years since the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, we remember the many inspirational achievements and the immense pride and unity shown by our communities. The games have left us with many iconic moments, world‑class sporting facilities and an inspirational legacy. In debate on this motion, I think it would be remiss of me not to say, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! oi! oi! oi!" I commend the motion to the House.
Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (17:23): While the sports may have been contained within Sydney Olympic Park, the positivity and excitement that the Olympic and Paralympic Games brought knew no bounds. The atmosphere radiated out of Sydney and across New South Wales and Australia. I know I certainly felt it in Newcastle. Before the games even began, the mood was lifting across the nation. The torch relay was an important part of the Olympics, especially for regional Australia. The Olympic torch passed within an hour's drive of 85 per cent of all Australians. I looked at the torch relay map this morning, and from what I could see it seems the Olympic torch travelled through every regional electorate in New South Wales. That is a massive feat, bringing the Olympic spirit to every region in our great State.
When the torch reached the Hunter, less than three weeks out from the opening ceremony, the excitement really started to pick up. The torch came down the North Coast to Raymond Terrace and then into Newcastle. Fifty thousand people gathered on the Newcastle foreshore, one of the largest crowds in the State. The Newcastle torch was carried by surfing legend and four-time world champion, Mark Richards, who still proudly calls Mereweather in Newcastle home. It then moved through Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast before circling back up to Cessnock, Maitland and the Upper Hunter. I remember the life and achievements of Hunter legend and professional cyclist Ron King from Muswellbrook, who was 74 when he carried the torch through his home town. Shortly after finishing his leg of the relay, he passed away from a heart attack. In Newcastle we were fortunate enough to be just a train ride from Sydney Olympic Park, and so many of my constituents made the most of that proximity to get to the games, which were made even more accessible with public transport fares included with Olympic tickets.
Australia is a great sporting nation, and the Sydney Olympics undoubtedly gave a boost to all sports of varying professional levels. However, it was especially beneficial for less popular sports that may have struggled to attract large crowds before the games. This comes from a place of experience. Twenty-five years ago, I was frantically trying to get my hands on any tickets possible. With most tickets sold out, I did not care what event I went to; I just wanted to get involved. In the end, I saw the softball and table tennis. That was the first time I ever watched those sports, and I got to see the world's best. I loved every minute of it.
I know that is a familiar story to many. Almost all of my conversations with people reminiscing about the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games features an odd sport that one just happened to secure tickets to. Having the Olympics in our own backyard did wonders for our Aussie athletes and para-athletes. There is nothing like a home crowd to get them all fired up, as our own paralympic champion, the member for Gosford, said. For a country with a small population, Australia has always overachieved at the Olympics, but never like we did in Sydney. Some 630 athletes competed—our largest ever team—and secured 58 medals. We ranked fourth overall. Since then, we have matched our fourth place ranking, including last year in Paris, but are yet to beat our record of 58 medals at another games. Who can forget our amazing Paralympic victory in Sydney. We came in first place with 149 medals, including two silvers from Newcastle's own Kurt Fearnley on his Olympic debut, and our very nearly own Central Coast champion, the member for Gosford.
Ms Liesl Tesch: I was in Newcastle then.
Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: She is our Newcastle champion. The 2000 Olympics was a testament to not only our sportspeople but also the sportsmanship of our people. For many weeks, Sydney showed the world how kind, generous and vibrant we are as a nation. Our team of 40,000 volunteers from across Australia are what contributed to making those Olympics so great. The International Olympic Committee applauded Sydney's volunteer culture. Every event since then has attempted to match our volunteer involvement, but no host country has been able to match the compassion and camaraderie of Australians. The legacy of the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games lives on in hearts and minds across our State. Only a few weeks ago, my staff were discussing their plans for the Brisbane Olympics—taking forward planning to a whole new level. The Sydney Olympics live on as the greatest Olympic Games of all time. I cannot wait to see if the Queenslanders can match it in 2032.
Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (17:28): It is a little hard to believe it has been 25 years since the Sydney Olympics, but those moments—those special two weeks in September—still shine brightly not just in our national memory but also in a lot of people's personal memories. I certainly have some incredible personal memories from that time, a few of which I will share today. My perspective comes from being a commentator and reporter at the games, which was the opportunity of a lifetime and a truly momentous experience. I was lucky enough to commentate on several gold medals as part of the shared 2UE and ABC coverage. I was working at 2UE at the time. It was a real joy to help convey the passion and excitement of some of those glorious—and sometimes completely unexpected—wins with hundreds of thousands of listeners across the country. I had the opportunity to cover everything from hockey and basketball to beach volleyball and women's water polo.
I will come back to the women's water polo, which I was pretty heavily involved with, because it had the most exciting of finishes and results. But there was so much else that was happening, as other members have spoken about. Cathy Freeman did not just carry a torch to start the games; she also carried the hopes of a nation. Her victory in the 400 metres remains one of the most powerful moments in Australian sporting history. I was lucky enough not to be working that night and spent it with some colleagues and one of Australia's greatest ever athletes, Shirley Strickland, who won seven Olympic medals between 1948 and 1956. She absolutely dominated international track events. She was a delight to be with. Honestly, I was having to pinch myself as she was asking me for updates on what else was happening in the track and field events—and there was quite a bit happening that night Cathy happened, which was just amazing. The stadium was still buzzing for quite a while after the race.
That night on the other side of the stadium to where we were sitting Australia's Tatiana Grigorieva was locked in a gripping battle in the first ever women's pole vault final with world record holder Stacy Dragila from the United States. Shirley was struggling to see that far away, so I was giving little bits of commentary and updates on the pole vault to an athletics legend. It was a pretty incredible time. The end result was that Tatiana got the silver medal. While Sydney was the host city, the impact of the Olympics stretched far and wide. Regional New South Wales also played its part. From hosting training camps and pre-Olympic events to supplying thousands of volunteers, regional communities were absolutely critical in making the Sydney games the success they were, and they will also need to be for Brisbane in 2032.
Back to the water polo, which was only a women's event at the Sydney Olympics after Australia had campaigned really hard for its inclusion. The tournament in 2000 began on this very date, 16 September—how serendipitous is that? What a week it turned out to be. I was chosen to cover the water polo, so I spent a fair bit of time going from the Homebush international broadcast centre to the Ryde aquatic centre for the preliminary rounds. Thankfully, the public transport was pretty amazing. During the first week, I got to know quite a bit about the Australian players. To be completely honest, no-one really thought the Aussies would get much further than the preliminary rounds. But they kept on winning and winning, and suddenly they were in the picture. Having lost only one match in the preliminary rounds, Australia made the semis. They beat Russia, and the scene was set for an epic final against the United States on 23 September at the Olympic aquatic centre, incidentally—and this was mentioned earlier—the same day that Grant Hackett won the 1500 metres freestyle.
I was poolside doing updates during the evening. There was quite a bit of track and field action happening in the main stadium, but it had got a bit boring, I guess you could say—there was not as much excitement—so attention turned to the water polo. There was excitement at the real possibility of a gold medal. A crowd of about 17,000 people, including then Australian Prime Minister John Howard, were watching. After three quarters, the match was tied at 2‑2 . By this stage, I was calling the action live. Naomi Castle gave Australia a 3-2 lead for a short period, before Brenda Villa tied the match for the United States at 3-3. With only 13 seconds left, it was mayhem. There was a blur of action as each team tried to find a winning shot. With two seconds on the clock, Australian captain Bridgette Gusterson fired off the shot that I honestly thought was the winner, but it was called back. Then, with 1.3 seconds left on the clock, the ball went nine metres back to Yvette Higgins. Her booming left-handed shot found the back of the net with just 0.5 seconds left on the clock. Higgins had scored, Australia had won the gold medal and the crowd went bananas.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (17:34): By leave: I was not planning to speak in this public interest debate. But, given there was a spare spot and the Olympic spirit was piercing through the screen in my office, I thought I would make a contribution. I cannot remember whether the final of the water polo was on a Friday or a Saturday night, but I do remember that my friends and I came into the city—as everyone was doing during those two weeks—to celebrate. There was a live screening area at the top of Martin Place, which was full. We caught the end of the match, and the place absolutely erupted. It was a very special moment.
The two weeks of the Olympics were very special, but the Paralympics were too. I was 20 that year. I distinctly remember my twentieth birthday party because, as one in their late teens or early twenties is encouraged to do, I sent my parents to our caravan at Norah Head. I had the house to myself and invited all my friends over. We did what people in their twenties do: have a great old time. But the party stopped so we could watch Cathy Freeman. We all celebrated and then we got back to what we were doing. It was very special for a bunch of 20‑something‑year‑olds to stop a party and crowd around a TV to watch someone unite the nation. There were also many other special moments. I got to take part in my own little way by working at the Paralympics. I was at university at the time. When the Olympic stadium opened, pretty good hourly rates were being offered to work on the deep fryer or one of the many different food—
Ms Jodie Harrison: Chips and gravy.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: Yes, on the chips. I remember I got some good money working during the Paralympics, which got me through university. It would have been better if the Paralympics had been before the Olympics, because then I would have had a bit more money to pay for the alcohol we drank at my twentieth party while we watched Cathy Freeman. Anyway, it all worked out well. I remember that at the Paralympics you could get a day pass ticket.
Ms Liesl Tesch: For 20 bucks.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: Yes. We did that a few times. You could wander around the Olympic precinct, watch all kinds of events and see some of the extraordinary athletes. Watching the powerlifting was a particularly special moment. People who basically had both legs missing were able to powerlift extraordinary weights. We all have our special moments, but I wanted to mention a couple that were special to my Olympic experience. One thing that bears mentioning is that the 2000 Olympics really put Sydney on the map. Everyone obviously knew where Sydney was before, but the Olympics put a stake in the ground that marked Sydney's growth into a genuine world city.
I am a fan of trashy science fiction and horror movies. Whenever the aliens destroy the world, there is always that shot of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge being destroyed. After that scene in Independence Day, it has been almost obligatory to include Sydney in any post-apocalyptic scene where the world is destroyed. I think the Sydney Olympics is the reason for that. It really put Sydney on the map. It showed how beautiful the city is, how amazing this country is and how fantastic its people are when we all get together. Every member should reflect on that when they come to Parliament to make important decisions in the best interests of this State, the country and the world. When we all come together, work hard and push in the same direction, we can do truly amazing things. As Juan Antonio Samaranch said, we hosted the best Olympic Games and we can be the best city and the best State in the world. I will leave it at that. Twenty-five years—jeez, I am getting old.
Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (17:39): In reply: I cannot thank my colleagues enough for their contributions this evening. My heart is bursting with pride. I am sure every member who has spoken this evening has been touched by the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games in various ways and have really warm memories. I support the member for Miranda's comment that the games created world-class facilities. Last night I was very proud to be at one of those facilities with the chair of Venues NSW, David Gallop. It was nice to be at the amazing Accor stadium with the Premier who said, "Look up at the stars." We would not have been able to do that if we had a roof on the stadium and the September weather last night was fantastic. It is a stadium that we will all cherish forever, and we are looking after and using our venues. I also thank member for Miranda for bringing up dear Lizzie, who is still part of our paraphernalia of the Paralympic Games. The mascots are really important.
The member for Parramatta spoke about the joy of the volunteers but also about the massive change in Homebush. The legacy of Brisbane 2032 will be putting infrastructure in place. It is a huge investment. I am a part of that legacy advisory group, which is talking about what can be done to create attitudinal changes in the future. I also thank the member for acknowledging that—like the Treasurer said—it does not matter if it rains because the people sitting in the stadium have already paid for their tickets. The member for Drummoyne enjoyed the games because they showed off the mateship, dedication and teamwork of Sydney. Importantly, the games inspired a generation of kids. The torch relay went through Newcastle, which is my original home city. I had the pleasure of taking that torch from Hannah Crowe, who was one of the year 9 kids from the Surf Life Saving movement on the coast, and lighting the cauldron in front of hundreds of thousands of people. That was a taste for me of what the games would become: the excitement and the work we had put in after Juan Antonio Samaranch announced the winner.
Many people across Sydney attached to various teams and countries, and in various ways—as journalists, drivers and volunteers. The relationships that those people formed during those games remain. The member for Leppington mentioned the amazing opportunity to celebrate the city. In 2000 the celebration was not only at the stadium and for those of us who got to be there; the city also came alive. Hosting the games is such an amazing time for a city. It really changes things. Social media did not exist in 2000, but in London it took the Paralympic Games to a new level with the education about the athletes. Brisbane is doing incredible work its games and New South Wales has an incredible opportunity. Because, for some, Australia is on the other side of the world, getting rid of the jet lag will be important. Athletes will be able to acclimatise in cities close to the Olympics, such as Sydney. I look forward to being part of 2032 no matter what shape or form it is in. The winner really, though, is Sydney.
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li): The question is that the motion be agreed to. All those in favour say Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi.
Motion agreed to.
