Sydney 2000 Olympic Venues Then and Now

Sydney's bid promised compact Games, with most venues within easy reach of the Olympic Park at Homebush Bay. In the end the core venues were at the park, with others spread across Sydney and football in four other cities.

Venue explorer

Where was each sport held in 2000?

Sport

Area

26 venues

Stadium Australia
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Ceremonies, Athletics, Football
Today: Now known under naming rights as Accor Stadium. Reconfigured with a smaller capacity and used for rugby league, rugby union, football and concerts.
Sydney International Aquatic Centre
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Swimming, Diving, Synchronised swimming, Water polo, Modern pentathlon
Today: Now Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, a public pool, school carnival and competition venue.
Sydney SuperDome
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Basketball, Gymnastics
Today: Now an indoor arena known under naming rights as Qudos Bank Arena, used for concerts and events.
The Dome & Exhibition Complex
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Badminton, Basketball, Gymnastics, Handball, Modern pentathlon, Volleyball
Today: Part of the Sydney Showground, used for exhibitions and the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Sydney Baseball Stadium (Showground)
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Baseball, Modern pentathlon
Today: The Showground stadium, used for AFL, cricket, events and the Easter Show.
Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Tennis
Today: Still a tennis venue, hosting professional events, community tennis and coaching.
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Hockey
Today: Still a hockey venue for state, national and community competition.
State Sports Centre
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Table tennis, Taekwondo
Today: An indoor multi-sport centre used for basketball, netball and other events.
Sydney International Archery Park
Sydney Olympic Park
In 2000: Archery
Today: Still used for archery, set within the Sydney Olympic Park parklands.
Sydney International Regatta Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Rowing, Canoe sprint
Today: At Penrith, used for rowing and paddling regattas and as public parkland.
Penrith Whitewater Stadium
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Canoe slalom
Today: A whitewater course offering rafting and kayaking to the public.
Dunc Gray Velodrome
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Cycling
Today: An indoor velodrome at Bass Hill, used for track cycling.
Sydney International Equestrian Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Equestrian
Today: At Horsley Park, used for equestrian events.
Sydney International Shooting Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Shooting
Today: At Cecil Park, used for target shooting.
Blacktown Olympic Park
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Baseball, Softball
Today: A sports park used for cricket, baseball, softball and community sport.
Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Water polo
Today: A community aquatic and leisure centre.
Bondi Beach
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Beach volleyball
Today: A temporary stadium was built on the sand for the Games. Bondi remains one of Sydney's most famous beaches.
Sydney Opera House
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Triathlon
Today: The triathlon started and finished near the Opera House, which remains Sydney's great performing arts centre.
Centennial Parklands
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Cycling
Today: The road cycling course used the park and nearby streets. The park is now popular for cycling and walking.
Western Sydney Parklands
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Cycling
Today: The mountain bike course was in the parklands, which are now open for walking, cycling and recreation.
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Weightlifting, Wrestling
Today: Demolished and replaced by the International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) at Darling Harbour.
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Volleyball
Today: Demolished; the site in Haymarket has been redeveloped.
Sydney Football Stadium
Elsewhere in Sydney
In 2000: Football
Today: The 1988 stadium was demolished and replaced by a new stadium on the same site at Moore Park.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Outside Sydney
In 2000: Football
Today: Still Melbourne's great stadium, home of AFL and Test cricket.
The Gabba
Outside Sydney
In 2000: Football
Today: Brisbane's cricket and AFL ground.
Bruce Stadium
Outside Sydney
In 2000: Football
Today: Now known as Canberra Stadium, used for rugby league and rugby union.

Based on the published list of Sydney 2000 Olympic venues. Venue names, uses and access change; check with the venue before visiting.

Sydney Olympic Park

The heart of the Games. Stadium Australia hosted the ceremonies, athletics and the men's football final. The Sydney International Aquatic Centre hosted swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo finals. The SuperDome hosted artistic gymnastics, trampoline and the basketball finals, and The Dome and Exhibition Complex at the Showground hosted badminton, handball, rhythmic gymnastics, indoor volleyball and parts of the modern pentathlon. Tennis, hockey, archery, table tennis and taekwondo had their own venues within the park.

Read more about Stadium Australia and the Aquatic Centre, or explore other venues.

Elsewhere in Sydney

Western Sydney hosted rowing and canoe sprint at Penrith, canoe slalom at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, equestrian at Horsley Park, shooting at Cecil Park, baseball and softball at Blacktown and track cycling at the Dunc Gray Velodrome. Closer to the city, the triathlon started at the Sydney Opera House, beach volleyball was played at Bondi Beach, and Darling Harbour hosted combat sports and weightlifting.

Outside Sydney

The preliminary football matches were spread around the country, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Gabba in Brisbane, Bruce Stadium in Canberra and Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.

What happened afterwards

After the Games, the Olympic Park venues were adapted for everyday use. Stadium Australia was reconfigured with movable seating and a smaller capacity. Temporary seating at the Aquatic Centre was removed. The SuperDome became one of Sydney's main concert arenas. Over time, some city venues were demolished and replaced, including the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the original Sydney Football Stadium.

The exterior of the former Sydney SuperDome arena at Sydney Olympic Park — The former SuperDome is now one of Sydney's main concert arenas. Photo: MelAppleby, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Visiting the venues

Many venues can be visited during events. Some, like the Aquatic Centre, are open to the public every day. The parklands around them are free to explore. Read our visitor guide.

Guides in this section

Frequently asked questions

How many venues were used at Sydney 2000?

About thirty sports venues were used, including temporary venues such as the beach volleyball stadium at Bondi.

Where was the Olympic Stadium?

Stadium Australia, at Sydney Olympic Park, hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics and the men's football final. It is now known under naming rights as Accor Stadium.

Are the Sydney 2000 venues still used?

Most are. The main Sydney Olympic Park venues host sport, concerts and events. A few city venues have been demolished and replaced.

Where was the swimming held?

At the Sydney International Aquatic Centre, now called Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Where were the rowing and canoeing events?

At the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, with canoe slalom at the nearby Penrith Whitewater Stadium.

Sources and further reading

Facts on this page were checked against these primary and official sources. Conditions change — confirm before you travel or buy.

Venues of the 2000 Summer Olympics — Wikipedia
Sydney Olympic Park venues — Sydney Olympic Park Authority
Accor Stadium — Venues NSW
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre — SOPAC
Penrith Whitewater Stadium — Penrith Whitewater Stadium

Sydney 2000 venues, then and now