The AOC hosted the event at Cathy Freeman Park with five-time Olympic Champion Ian Thorpe and nine-time Paralympic Champion, Louise Sauvage speaking as special guests and Channel 7's Mark Beretta as MC.

To commemorate the milestone, two young athletes, Tenayah Logan and Tamsin Colley were selected by Sydney 2000 400m gold medallist, Cathy Freeman to re light the cauldron.

Logan is a 16-year old basketballer with the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence Program (NCIE) while Colley is a Rio 2016 Paralympian who competed at her first Games at the age of 14, in athletics.

Due to COVID restrictions, Freeman was unable to attend the event so chose Logan and Colley to do the honours in her place.

Guests attended a special breakfast hosted by Channel 7's Mel McLoughlin, where athletes shared their fondest memories of Sydney 2000. 

"I think one of my most special memories from Sydney 2000, was when we were cooling down after a game," Sydney 2000 Hockeyroo Katrina Powell said.

"The crowd would stay and give us a standing ovation as we would do our cooldown laps around the field.

"You know when you're competing and you're in the match, that they're cheering, but the fact that people didn't leave at the end, they waited and they cheered us on, that for me signified how important the Olympics were to Sydney and to Australia."

Water polo's Deborah Watson said the best part about Sydney 2000 was being able to include those close to her.

"I think just having a home Olympics was incredible for us, because it meant that family and friends, people who had supported us for so many years were all able to join in, plus all of the older players who hadn't had the opportunity to play in an Olympic Games.

"It just meant that everyone could participate and we felt like we were able to take them along with us. To have them beside us in the lead up and through the competition was just phenomenal."

Paralympic Wheelchair Basketballer, Liesl Tesch, was emotional when recalling why Sydney 2000 meant so much to her and was grateful to those in the room who made it all possible.

“I am going to cry with gratitude to the people in this room, who changed the lives of athletes with disability and people with disability, for the work and belief you put into this Games, you couldn’t have imagined.”

“As an athlete you are on the other side of the space, but now I’m in the room with the people who put this together and have the privilege to be here in person and say thank you.

"You have changed the lives of people with disability from Sydney 2000. You made it an accessible city, you have given us a voice, you have given us dignity.

"Before they would say what’s wrong with that lady, now they ask what sport does she do."

Sandy Holloway, the CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games responded saying it was the athletes who deserved the praise.

"Of course the athletes don’t need to thank us organisers, it is the other way round.

"That being said, it was really moving for me as an organiser and wonderful to hear how much it meant to the athletes.

"At the end of the day you are doing it for them and the Australian public. The athletes were very kind and very generous with their remarks this morning and it was great to hear what it has meant to them."

Graham Richardson, Mayor of the Sydney 2000 Olympic village said being involved in the Games was an honour.

“It was an honour beyond belief. You can’t image what it is like to be wandering around the village with all of those athletes and have responsibilities like ensuring 123 different cultures can be fed.”

You can follow all of our Sydney 2000 20 year celebrations over the next 16 days, HERE

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