To boost Sydney’s international standing and tourism credentials, the Sydney 2000 Games organising committee made the savvy move to make key city sites central to the Games experience. At famous landmarks, such as Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and The Domain, memorable sporting moments were televised live via giant screens to enthralled crowds. This ‘Olympic Live’ initiative has since become a global phenomenon that continues to expand the host city offering.

In the lead up to the Games, major public parks, plazas and city sidewalks were redesigned, repaved and furnished with modern streetlighting and newly planted trees to make the city more attractive. These efforts helped Central Sydney play host to the thousands of revellers wanting to soak up the Games atmosphere.

Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture, a joint venture of BVN and Lobb (now Populous) was appointed by the Olympic Co-ordination Authority to study how the central city could be used at Games time and where the live sites could be located. The planning study led to the formation of a number of taskforces which addressed specific issues such as pedestrian and vehicle management, wayfinding, event programming and management. A coordinated inter-agency response followed to ensure that the live sites contributed to the festive atmosphere while city life continued unimpeded.

An inclusive process was established to incorporate the needs of the disability community leading to improvements to public realm accessibility that would otherwise not have eventuated in such a short time frame.

Six sites were set up in locations commonly used for major celebrations – Circular Quay, The Domain 

Pyrmont Point 

Tumbalong Park 

These acted as communal living rooms, with giant video screens, live entertainment stages and spectator facilities. Each was a mini-venue in itself, providing places for up to 80,000 people to enjoy the games in a spontaneous, relaxed environment. They included support facilities such as information booths, ‘help points’, food, beverage and retail sales, and public toilets. More than a million people viewed the closing ceremony at the Olympic Live sites.

BLSA went on to prepare the detailed designs and documentation for three of the live sites, The Domain, Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Park. The detailed thinking ensured that the facilities were adequate and appropriately arranged to enable the venue to function smoothly.

The Olympic Live sites were successful in enhancing the overall cultural and sporting experience for fans and promoting the city, offering a way for those away from Olympic Park to participate in the Games atmosphere and fostering a sense of unity and shared experience among Sydney-siders and visitors.