September 15

Aussie welcome is nothing but proud

If you want to see just how good natured Australians are, pack
thousands of them into a park for hours to watch the opening
ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

At Belmore Park, one of several "live sites" set up with big-screen
televisions so that residents of Sydney can see Games events for free,
throngs of tourists and locals spent a Friday night shoulder to shoulder,
watching the spectacle unfolding a few kilometers away at Olympic
Stadium. Although no alcohol was sold on the grounds, bottles of wine,
champagne, and the ubiquitous Victoria Bitter could be seen
throughout the crowd.

In the urban U.S., this kind of scenario would be a riot waiting to
happen. But things are different here.

As anyone could tell from the beaming face of Andrew Gaze as he led
the Australian team around the stadium in the Parade of Nations, the
hosts are incredibly proud to be sharing their country with the rest of the
world. In Belmore Park, the sight of the local boys and girls entering the
stadium inspired cries of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" followed by cries of
the local cheer "Oy, oy, oy!"

But even in its enthusiasm, the crowd was nothing if not polite.
American boxing legend Muhammed Ali was welcomed warmly, and not
just by the Yanks in attendance. Athletes from Canada, Europe, and
East Asian countries earned their own cheers. And the flagbearer from
Mongolia, a very large man wearing very small trunks, was a fan
favorite.

In an event that went for an hour and a half before taking a commercial
break, there were few signs of the corporate marketing machines that
blanketed Atlanta four years ago. Belmore Park viewers waved small
paper flags bearing an IBM logo, and two girls wearing backpack-sized
replicas of Kodak film cases weaved through the crowd selling
disposable cameras.

For the most part viewers could watch without distraction as swimmer
Samantha Riley took the Olympic flame to the top of the famous
Sydney Opera House, the history of this young country was acted out in
song and dance in the stadium, and Aboriginal track star Cathy
Freeman lit the Olympic cauldron to let the Games begin.

No security guards could be seen in Belmore Park. But things are
different here.

October 2
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September 29
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September 28
Hamstring injuries deplete 200 meter events

September 26
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September 25
Volleyball injuries start at the knee

September 22
So far so good, says Polyclinic's top radiologist

September 21
Paddlers' injuries keep a low profile

September 20
School's in at the Polyclinic Imaging Center

September 19
Day at the beach can be painful

September 18
Pommel horse, wrist MR go hand in hand

September 15
Aussie welcome is nothing but proud