This colourful Olympic Opening Ceremony Sydney 2000 program is the official souvenir of the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It was presented as a complimentary program to each ticket holder attending the official Sydney 2000 opening ceremony. A detailed Olympic Opening Ceremony Souvenir Rehearsal Program was also produced at the time, for the rehearsal of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony. However, it was sold to the public for Aust$15.00.

The official Olympic Opening Ceremony Sydney 2000 souvenir program acknowledges, and pays tribute, to the organizers and contributors to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony, including the closing ceremonies director, Ric Birch, an Australian- born ceremonies director who had previously worked on aspects of the opening ceremonies of the Los Angeles Games in 1984, the Barcelona Games in 1992, and Atlanta in 1996. The program also celebrates Australia, Australians and Australian art and culture by featuring a range of iconic Australian images by Australia artists and photographers and new artworks relating to Sydney that were purposefully produced for the program by Australian artist Ken Done. Art direction for the program was by Ken Done and graphic design was by Ken Done's daughter Camilla Done who works with Ken Done at done art & Design.

The program featured photographs and information about many of the artists performing in the ceremony. In his introduction to the program and the Sydney 2000 Games, the then Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane wrote, "All Australians join me in wishing the athletes of the world the very best for a successful Olympic competition. To all our visitors, I express the hope that you have an enjoyable and memorable visit and that, when the time comes for you to return to your own country, you will carry with you fond memories of Australia and Australians."

Ken Done and Camilla Done

Printed by Diamond Press, Sydney

Opening Ceremony Program

Made for and owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after use in the Games.

Program, Olympic Opening Ceremony Sydney 2000, paper, art direction by Ken Done, design by Camilla Done, printed by Diamond Press, published by the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG), Sydney, 2000

Program, Opening Ceremony, gloss paper, 87 pages. Yellow cover with Olympic Rings embossed in middle of the cover. Black text "Olympic Opening Ceremony" at the top of the cover and "Sydney 2000" towards the bottom. The title is repeated on the books spine. Back cover is plain yellow. The inside front and back covers feature Ken Done artworks of Sydney Harbour. Introductions by Sir William Deane, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Michael Knight, Harry Gordon, Clive James, Ric Birch and David Atkins are followed by an outline of the ceremony. Following this there is more detailed information about each section of the program. The back of the book lists all those involved in the Opening Ceremony - major contributors are listed with headshots and some personal information.

Made: 2000

2001/84/262

2000

220 mm