Many will never forget seeing the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Cathy Freeman walked to a pool of water, and as she swept the flaming Olympic torch across it, a ring of fire sprung from the submerged Olympic Cauldron.
The flaming Olympic Cauldron, with water cascading from its lower flutings, then rose to be joined with the mast, which emerged from behind the northern stand of the Stadium. This combined structure then ascended to its maximum height, where it stood for the duration of the Games.
If you want to see this structure for yourself, visit Cathy Freeman Park (formerly The Overflow), where the Olympic Cauldron sits today, and features the names of the 1,972 Olympic medallists and 2,627 Paralympic medallists on gold, silver and bronze nameplates at the base.
A shallow dome of white marble commemorates the first Olympic Games of the modern era, held in Athens in 1896. Reignited to commemorate special occasions, including future Olympic Games held at other sites, the Olympic Cauldron stands on 24 stainless steel columns and weighs approximately 7 tonnes.
