David Atkins, Artistic Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremony, developed the design concept for the 'Millennium Choir' uniform. This uniform was worn by 1 of the 225 members of the Millennium Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia who performed in the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The uniform features a blue suit (jacket and skirt) and a white blouse. The suit has been constructed in 'Lustalene', a multi- purpose polyester suiting fabric. The blue and white of the 'Millennium Choir' uniform resonates the colours of the Greek flag, paying homage to the origins of the Olympic tradition. The white blouse was purchased.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games comprised three major sections: mandatory formalities and protocol sections, the cultural display and the entrance of the athletes. The Millennium Choir featured in the Olympic Flag segment of the Opening Ceremony. In this segment the Olympic flag was raised by an eleven member representation from the Australian Defence Forces. As the flag was raised the choir sang the 'Olympic Hymn'. Greek composer Spiros Samaras wrote the 'Olympic Hymn' for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. While there has been several attempts to update the 'Olympic Hymn', including an international competition held in the lead up to the 1956 Olympics, in 1958 the original Hymn by Samaras was declared by the IOC as the official 'Olympic Hymn' and as such is the Hymn used today. In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony the choir was accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and conducted by George Ellis, who also orchestrated the Hymn.

The formal and majestic nature of the flag raising section of the ceremony required the choir to be clothed in a uniform in keeping with the formal atmosphere required by the ceremony organisers.

David Atkins was the Artistic Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. In collaboration with Costume Supervisor Paula Ryan, Atkins arrived at a design concept taking into account the formal and majestic nature of the flag raising section of the ceremony. This section required the choir to be clothed in a uniform in keeping with the formal atmosphere required by the ceremony organisers.

The blue and white of the 'Millennium Choir' costume resonates the colours of the Greek flag, paying homage to the origins of the Olympic tradition.

Maker name Suit made by Kelly Country Factory Outlet, co-ordinated by the Ceremonies Costume Workshop.

The costume was worn by one of 225 members of the Millennium Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

Presented to the Powerhouse Museum by the Olympic Coordination Authority, on behalf of the NSW Government

Performance costume, 'Millennium Choir', fabric, concept by David Atkins, partly made by Kelly Country, used in the Opening Ceremony of Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000

Consists of a white polyester blouse, a blue cotton straight knee length skirt and a blue cotton jacket.

Made: 2000

2001/84/73

2000