While the Olympic football competition was underway and the Australian men’s and women’s teams enjoyed a day-off from competition, the Olympic torch was snaking its way through Sydney’s suburbs.
Commencing the penultimate day at Concord West, within sight of the Olympic Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park, the army of torch runners moved rejoicefully through the inner west and southern suburbs before making its way to the eastern suburbs.
As sunset was falling, the torch had reached the Sydney CBD with Olympians, personalities and high-profile former athletes including John Newcombe, Jeff Fenech, Robyn Maher, Jane Flemming, Gary Ella, Jane Saville, Kerri Pottharst, Simon Poidevin, Dean Capobianco, Phil Coles, Mark Kerry, Nick Greiner, Mike Whitney, Steve Waugh, Prince Albert of Monaco, Kevin Berry, Janelle Elford, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Rafter and Johanna Griggs all carrying the torch before excited crowds.
At Town Hall, singers John Williamson, Christine Anu, Paul Kelly and John Paul Young all perform while the torch moved through Mrs Macquarie's Chair, around to the Opera House and then up George Street.
There, swimming legends Dawn Fraser and Murray Rose, took the torch to the Town Hall where the world's number one female golfer at the time, Karrie Webb, carried it up the steps to light the cauldron while Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Frank Sartor, beamed proudly.
It was on that evening at 7.11pm that the massive Olympic rings erected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge were switched on where they symbolically glowed throughout the Games.
As with all Olympic Games, the city was alive with VIPs and red carpet.
Apart from torch runner, Prince Albert of Monaco, Sydney was playing host to seemingly endless streams of royalty and heads of state never previously witnessed.
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of incumbent US President Bill Clinton, arrived on this day along with the King and Queen of Malaysia, and their son, His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah.
They were to be joined during the Games by Princess Anne, Her Majesty Queen Sofia de Borbon of Spain and her children His Royal Majesty Prince Felipe and Princess Cristina.
Belgium was represented by Crown Prince Philipe and Princess Mathilde and the Netherlands by Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.
Perhaps one of the most famous Royal stories of the Games involved Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.
It was during a night out with brother Prince Joachim, his cousin Prince Nikolaos of Greece, and Princess Martha Louise of Norway at the Slip Inn hotel in The Rocks where he met Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson, who was working in Sydney with a real estate company. They were later married in May, 2004 in Copenhagen.
At the Olympic Stadium, thousands attended the Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal and the welcoming Olympic volunteers were out in force.
The city was in full Olympic mode and excitedly counting down the hours for the cauldron to be lit.
All was in readiness for Sydney and Australia to shine before the world.
