At today's Opening Ceremonies of the XXVIIth Olympiad
in Sydney, "there unfolded a seamless, wordless narrative of
a nation," according to Mike Hedge of the SYDNEY MORNING
HERALD. Hedge: "Stunning visuals, brilliantly complex
technical effects and masterful engineering turned the arena
from a beach, to an ocean, to a corroboree, to a farm and
back to the harbour city. And it did so with barely a hint
of jingoism or over-the-top parochialism" (SYDNEY MORNING
HERALD, 9/16). In Dallas, Cathy Harasta adds the ceremony
"combined many forms of movement as it illustrated
Australia's Aboriginal culture through dance, its settlement
by Europeans and its agricultural roots." In a "departure
from previous Games, USA athletes and officials marched in
together" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/15). The AP writes that
Australia "inaugurated" its Games with a "color-soaked,
multicultural journey through a history of triumphs and
tears. The hearty message from the world's only island
continent to its largest sports spectacle: G'day!" (AP,
9/15). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes the ceremony, with
12,697 performers, "is intensely Australian, ... has no
narrator, and doesn't need an explanation." Dir of
Ceremonies Ric Birch: "The decision was to create a highly
visual experience" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/15). In DC, Michael
Wilbon writes that the choice of sprint kayaker Cliff Meidl
to carry the U.S. flag and lead the U.S. contingent at the
ceremony was a "no-brainer." Meidl was shocked by 30,000
volts of electricity 14 years ago and "brought back to life"
after suffering a cardiac arrest (WASH. POST, 9/15).
TIME PASSAGES: NBC's Katie Couric opened this morning's
"Today" show by saying, "The Games of the XXVIIth Olympiad
officially begin today, Friday, September 15, 2000." A few
minutes later, Anne Curry said in her news segment, "You'll
be able to watch the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney
Olympics tonight on NBC. But because of the time difference
between here and Australia, the ceremonies are happening
right now." But during her 8:00am ET news report, Curry
said, "Today is opening day for the Summer Olympics. The
Olympic Flame neared its final destination this morning.
Fireworks lit up the night sky in advance of tonight's
Opening Ceremonies" ("Today," NBC, 9/15). ABC's "Good
Morning America" reported on the opening ceremonies, as
ABC's Robin Roberts said the event included, "A lot of
pageantry." Under Roberts' name was the graphic, "She is
still REALLY REALLY LIVE." While reporting at 10:20pm AET,
another graphic read, "Not simulated darkness" (ABC, 9/15).
I SAW OLYMPIC ATHLETES STANDING THERE: Meanwhile, the
Olympic Roads and Traffic Authority stated that transport to
Sydney's Olympic Park "for the opening ceremony ran
smoothly" (AAP, 9/16). Just before the opening ceremony, an
Army spokesperson said around 100 Army, Navy and Air Force
drivers would be drafted into Sydney by Monday to help drive
people around the Games (N.Y. POST, 9/15). NBC's Kelly
O'Donnell reported that SOCOG's transportation system is
"struggling" with "athlete buses running late [and] U.S.
water polo and boxing teams stranded, missing practice."
USOC VP Sandy Baldwin: "We've had bus drivers get lost.
We've had athletes standing on street corners" ("Nightly
News," NBC, 9/14). Baldwin said on Thursday: "This morning,
the women's water polo players missed a scrimmage because
their driver took them to the wrong university" (AP, 9/14).
