Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | In Depth | Results &  Fixtures | Photo Galleries | Audio/Video | TV & Radio | Front Page | Athletics-Track | Athletics-Field | Boxing | Cycling | Swimming | Equestrian | Football | Gymnastics | Hockey | Martial Arts | Racquet Sports | Water Sports | Other Sports | Fans' Guide | Team GB | SportsTalk | Audio/Video | BBC Team | Photo Gallery | Paralympics |
Olympics2000 Contents:

BBC Sport Online: Olympics2000


Wednesday, 27 September, 2000, 05:04 GMT 06:04 UK

Olympics to end in blaze of glory



Olympics opening ceremony
The closing ceremony for the Sydney Games is set be a spectacular affair featuring the Australian F-111 air force and the biggest firework display on earth.

The fighter planes will ignite a massive plume of flame over the Olympic stadium on Sunday night to start a stunning fireworks finale to signal the end of the Games.

"It is utterly spectacular," said Ignatius Jones, artistic director.

"The people in the stadium will feel the heat, most definitely."

The Australian air force will fly 1,000 feet above Stadium Australia as the closing ceremony ends.

Fuel

"It will jettison most of its fuel and ignite it with its after-burn," said Jones.


It will be geographically the largest pyrotechnic effect in history
Ignatius Jones

"It catches fire very quickly and forms this 1,000 foot plume of flame."

Lightning shells will then explode like giant flashbulbs at 24 different points along the Parramatta River from the stadium to downtown Sydney, where another F-111 will perform a second "dump and burn" operation above the famous Harbour Bridge.

"It's like a giant firework that lights at the stadium and then burns down the river," Jones said.

"It will be very different from the river of fire on the Thames in that it will work."

Pyrotechnics

Jones, who masterminded Sydney's impressive pyrotechnical welcome to the 21st century, said Sunday's Olympic extravaganza would be far bigger, with the Harbour Bridge threaded with fireworks and yet more on four giant barges, 10 smaller boats and the rooftops of seven buildings.

The 23-minute show, which will consume $1.7m worth of fireworks, will also include a simultaneous fireburst of colour from 41 sites spread over more than 10 miles.

"That will be geographically the largest pyrotechnic effect in history," Jones said. Related to this story:
Spectacular start for Sydney Games (15 Sep 00 | Olympics2000)
The Olympics in pictures (09 Aug 00 | Photo Gallery)
Let the games begin (15 Sep 00 | AudioVideo)
Dream symbol for a new Australia (15 Sep 00 | Olympics2000)


Internet links: Sydney 2000 |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | In Depth | Results &  Fixtures | Photo Galleries | Audio/Video | TV & Radio | Front Page | Athletics-Track | Athletics-Field | Boxing | Cycling | Swimming | Equestrian | Football | Gymnastics | Hockey | Martial Arts | Racquet Sports | Water Sports | Other Sports | Fans' Guide | Team GB | SportsTalk | Audio/Video | BBC Team | Photo Gallery | Paralympics |
Olympics2000 Contents: