One of the most important events which has happened to Sydney in recent times has been gaining the right to host the 2000 Olympic Games. There has been great excitement, and widespread public support, over Sydney's staging the premier athletics event in the world and there is also a hope that the Games may give the city a lift and even increase prosperity.
This briefing paper looks at the background to the modern Olympic movement and the changes which have taken place in approaches to the presentation of an Olympiad. It also examines expectations that people have of the Games and how these appear to be realised.
