2000 Olympic Marathon Course Announced
20 June 1998A new route for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Marathon has been approved to make it more convenient for spectators and to provide a faster course for the athletes.
This was announced today by the President of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Mr Michael Knight and the Chairman of SOCOG's Sports Commission, Mr John Coates.
SOCOG have also proposed to the International Olympic Committee and the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) that the Women's Marathon begin at 9am on Sunday 24 September, 2000 instead of 4pm on that day as originally proposed.
Mr Coates said this change was recommended by the athletes and experienced race organisers to take advantage of the cooler weather conditions in the early morning.
"It will also provide an opportunity to greater promote and televise the Women's Marathon against the background of less competition from other events at that time," Mr Coates said.
"The Men's Marathon will still commence at 4pm on the final day, Sunday, 1 October 2000, because it is traditionally the precursor to the Closing Ceremony which prevents moving it to the earlier time."
Mr Knight said it was always anticipated that the original route for the Marathon, which had been proposed in Sydney's Olympic Bid, would need to be refined and the new course had been finalised after consultations with athletes.
"The Marathon course will still commence in Miller Street, outside North Sydney Oval and finish in the Olympic Stadium, as proposed in the bid," Mr Knight said.
"The main change to the course is the addition of a long section along Anzac Parade as far as Avoca Street, Kingsford, providing an opportunity for spectators along this section to see the athletes run down and run back along Anzac Parade."
"This will provide an excellent vantage point for spectators who will be able to see one of the most popular events at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games free of charge."
"It also means residents of the eastern and southern suburbs of Sydney will now have a greater opportunity to watch the marathon."
Mr Knight said other changes to the course had been made to eliminate as many hills as possible, to eliminate unnecessary corners and to utilise the widest possible roads.
"This would enable a faster and less taxing course for the athletes, make it easier for spectators to find good locations and make it more convenient for television coverage and for support vehicles," Mr Knight said.
"The changes to the course will ensure bigger crowds for the Women's and Men's Marathon without losing any of the spectacular Sydney scenery for the millions of people throughout the world who will watch the events on television."
For more information contact Graham Cassidy, Minister's office (02) 9228 4244, mobile 0419 202317 or Scott Crebbin, SOCOG Media Information Coordinator, (02) 9297 2770 mobile 0419 751 805.
The Course
Click here to download a colour map of the course supplied by SOCOG in pkzip format: 1998n047.zip or just a graphic picture here
The women's marathon will be run on 24 September 2000 at 7.30am, and the mens on 1 October 2000 at 4pm. The course proceeds from North Sydney to Homebush as follows:
Commence outside North Sydney Oval, Miller St. Over Sydney Harbour Bridge - enter lanes 2, 3 and 4 with smooth transition to lanes 7 & 8 Over Cahill and up Macquarie Street Along College Street Up Oxford Street Right into Flinders Street/Anzac Parade Left at Lang/Old Grand Drive Lap of Centennial Park Exit along Lang/Old Grand Drive Left into Anzac Parade Continue to turnaround point just north of Avoca Street intersection Retrace steps along Anzac Parade/Flinders Street/Oxford Street (no detour to Centennial Pk) Into Liverpool Street Right into Elizabeth Street Left into Bathurst Street Over new Glebe Island Bridge Along City West Link, including extension (to be completed by April 2000) Continue along Dobroyd Parade Right at Ramsey Road Left at Fairlight Street Continue into Queens Road/Gipps Street Left into Sydney Street Cross Concord Road into exit ramp off M4 Along M4 on east bound lanes Enter Sydney Olympic Park via 'mousehole' Via Olympic Boulevard to Stadium
Information supplied by: Dave Cundy
