They were just two-years-old when the Olympic Games took place in Sydney ten years ago. Now Anthony Melnyk and Hannah Chiu are the school captains of Newington Public School, a primary school located where more than 10,500 athletes lived during the Games.

“Our school was made because of the Olympics,” 12-year-old Melnyk said. “And we have some pretty good venues to use because of them.”

Melnyk and Chiu will play a special role during the 10 year anniversary of the Games on Wednesday 15 September, lighting a community cauldron as part of a schools celebration.

“I feel so honoured to represent our school and students and light the cauldron,” Chiu said. “I have seen a documentary about the torch relay and Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron. I am really excited.”

Melnyk, Chiu and their peers have learnt about the Sydney 2000 torch relay - people who participated in it and the different modes of transport used.

“The torch was carried on ferries, canoes, rowboats and bikes around Australia and even went under water at the Great Barrier Reef,” Melnyk said. “It was pretty amazing.”

Newington Public School has maintained its history with the Sydney Olympics, naming its sport houses after four great Australian Olympians who competed in 2000.

“Our sport houses are named after Cathy Freeman, Louise Sauvage, Susie O’Neill and Ian Thorpe,” Chiu said. “I just can’t wait to meet one of them on Wednesday.”

More than 60 Olympians and Paralympians will accompany primary students during the schools celebration commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Together they will participate in a recreation of the Opening Ceremony, walking through the athlete tunnel, before emerging into ANZ Stadium to say the Athletes’ Oath, sing the national anthem and listen to interviews with Freeman and Sauvage.

In the afternoon they will compete in a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports at the Athletic Centre and students will have a chance to see if they have a competitive edge over their sports heroes. “

I like badminton, table tennis and tennis,” Chiu said. “And I have represented the school in athletics in the 100m.”

“I’d really like to be a professional soccer player,” Melnyk said. “I play for the school team and also play cricket and basketball.”

The schools celebration is one of several events planned to commemorate the Sydney 2000 10th Anniversary.

Volunteers have been invited to return to Sydney Olympic Park for a reunion and Olympians are coming from around the country to witness the relighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

Frances Cordaro
AOC