I remember when they predicted traffic gridlock, crowds everywhere, parking problems, etc. for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. So many locals left town that it turned out to be one of the greatest times to be in LA...empty freeways, upfront parking everywhere, restaurants begging for business...heck, even Disneyland practically went out of business due to lack of tourists!

BamBam .. there are like in all English speaking countries, words that mean VERY different things to other places, despite us all allegedly speaking the same mother tongue. There are many entire books on "Australian English". Try:
http://www.gleebooks.com.au

Innocent expressions you might make like commenting some woman has a large fanny or saying you are rooting for someone have VERY different meanings locally!

Hope you enjoy the visit!

Randy and BamBam look foreward to meeting you. Ozstamps. im glad youll be outa here as you may embarass us real ozzies.Premex. I love your comments youre always RIGHT as you are now the real groovers and movers will rock on down parramatta road marvelling in the joy the rest of the world have a being in this fabulous land. Australia Australia

ozstamps-Thanks for the headsup on the terms. Things like that can definitely cause problems.

As soon as we find out what hotel we will be staying in, I will probably hit you and tinkybelle up for info on sites to see and things to do. We had planned to go the opening ceremonies, but the only tickets available were $1054 each, so we now have most of the 14th and all of the 15th to wander around.

Thanks
Brad

I'm tentatively in Sydney for the swimming events (Sept 16-23)..but my friend, who is a U.S. swimmer, needs to make the team first for me to commit (she was at World Cup in Paris and Italy this past winter, and I was over for those, too, so she has a very good chance to get a slot).

Trials here are in Indianapolis Aug 9-16 (I'll be there). Have accommodations set up with friends a couple train stops over the Harbour Bridge if she continues on to Syndey.

I have award tickets, arriving Melbourne on Sept 9, and home from Sydney Oct 15. I booked these back around last November.

Tom

Student,

If you haven't already committed...
In Cairns I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Colonial Resort. Stayed there in 94 and it was simply incredible. It was also a lot calmer flying LAX to CNS instead of Sydney or Brisbane, which we did later in tandem.

Well, it is now 30 days and counting until we leave Juneau for our final destination of Sydney for the first week of the Olympics. In reading several web sites about the games, I was really pleased to see the comment from one protester that visitors would be greeted by burning cars and buildings, or something like that. Glad to see that he had backed off and now claims to be pushing for non-violent protest.

Found out we are staying in the Crest Hotel, which was previously known as the Capital. Is it a good thing that the name of your hotel changes from the time you make your reservation until the time you get there? From the info it looks to be a nice hotel and contains relaxation centers with Korean ginseng baths. Not sure if that means bathing in ginseng juice, bathing in water with ginseng in it or if I have to eat ginseng while bathing. The hotel looks close to everything, but from recent large protests, this may not be the best thing.

"Excuse me, I need to book a ticket to Seattle for the WTO meeting. And I'll need a hotel downtown, because I heard that's where all the action will be."

Joking aside, I am looking forward to this trip a great deal and while protesters are to be expected, I only hope that they don't overshadow the games.

Brad

The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council in Sydney has applied for police permission to create a human chain outside Sydney Airport in the five days leading up to the Olympics.

The land council, known as Metro, also notified police it would like to march on the Sydney office of Prime Minister John Howard on September 15, the day of the opening ceremony. Metro march organizer Lyall Munro said today the applications were simply a matter of protocol, and he was confident the protests will happen.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/965761398.html

Doc .. I sadly think what you posted will be the tiniest tip of the tiniest iceberg with regard to Aboriginal based activism, and with LOTS of non-aboriginals joining in.

I am not commenting whether this is right or wrong, and whether I agree with it or not, it is simply a fact. The world media being camped in this place for a few weeks is going to give that line of protest a world stage to appeal to.

BAMBAM .. finally got my flights all locked in, Out Sept 17, to home from USA/Mexico Sept 27.

I you or others wanna catch up 14th or whatever day you get in, be happy to try and get a firm drink/dinner date for any FT'ers etc together.

The weather will be different from Juneau, thats for sure! Last time I was in Alaska, went right up to Point Barrow, the nothernmost point of the USA! Report on that here:

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ozstamps//alaska.htm

United claim they WILL get the USA Olympic team to OZ despite all the flight delays they are suffering lately!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/002660.html

And for anyone wanting to fly around cheap .. look at this:

Qantas Offer $US18 fares In Australia.

Qantas immediately matched this new deep discount.

Virgin Blue are expected to launch with $A20 fares (=$US12)

Great news for anyone visiting "downunder" around the Olympics!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/0008/13/sunday/news3.html

My error ... $A33 comes out more like $19, not $US18!

I am reading today's (Sunday) newspaper.

There are 7,000 hotel rooms still available during the Olympics. All the "experts" had predicted a total oversold situation.

Still TWO MILLION EVENT TICKETS UNSOLD.

SOCOG is placing back onto the open market its block bookings of berths on the luxury liner Nieuw Amesterdam whih wil be moored in the harbor.

There are NO discounted "back fill" tickets outta town to Europe, or basically anywhere else. (Thank Gawd I booked mine when I did!)

The Qantas group general sales manager says in same article this will not happen. He says it is almost impossible to locate a revenue ticket out of Australia at ANY price right now. There will be no cheapie back fill deals.

"The Olympics are the worse thing that's happened to real estate here" said a principal of a leading real estate company.

Houses leased for $28,000 a week have had their contracts cancelled.

So, anyone out there reading this that plans to come on down ... start booking NOW!



STOP PRESS ... Ansett also just matched the $19 fares!



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 08-13-2000).]

Well we'll post a meet here corner by 1st Sept so all get out your diaries. I spose someone should get the F/F points at a Sheraton hilton or Hyatt!!!. so who needs em?

------------------

ozstamps/tinkybelle,

Sorry I haven't responded sooner but had family in town and didn't have much free time between fishing, whale watching and several dinners out.

If either or both of you are free the evening of the 14th, we would enjoy meeting you for dinner/drinks somewhere near the Crest Hotel. Nothing fancy, but would be nice to sample some local fare.

Brad

I'll be in Sydney's CBD 8 Sept through 3 Oct. Come on down, ya'll. My client has a HUGE surplus of CBD four-star rooms and sponsor-quality event tickets she'll liquidate at cost or less. From my experience at several past Olympics, I assure you that traffic on Parramatta will be less than every-day rush hour. Sydneysiders will be so scared by predictions of gridlock that they'll stay indoors or fly to Orlando for the fortnight.