Sydney 2000 Olympic Medal design clarification
The image of a colosseum depicted on the Sydney 2000 Olympic medals first appeared in 1928 and was not designed by the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG).

The inclusion of the colosseum image on the Sydney Olympic medals is in conformity with the wishes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to continue the tradition of medal images started at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.

‘This (colosseum) is not a new image designed by SOCOG for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games medals,’ said Ric Birch, Director of Ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

‘The colosseum image dates back to 1928, and we were asked to uphold the tradition of portraying the image on the medals by the IOC which we have duly done,’ he said.

With the exception of the Barcelona Games, the colosseum image has been included on medals designed for Olympic Games competition since 1928, including the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games (Color copies of Olympic medal designs incorporating colosseum image from 1928-1996 available on request).

SOCOG presented a medal design last year to the IOC for approval, which included the Sydney Opera House in the place where a colosseum was usually present on the medal

‘The obverse of the Sydney 2000 medals initially contained an image of the Opera House, but the IOC preferred the design first seen in the 1928 Olympic Games,’ Mr Birch said.

The IOC requested the removal of the Opera House from the obverse of the Sydney medals and that the iconic Sydney image be replaced by key elements of the 1928 Cassioli design including images of a chariot and colosseum in order to continue the tradition of incorporating the original 1928 images on Olympic medals.

The Sydney Opera House, identified by its arching sails, is included on the reverse side of the medals for the Sydney Olympic Games, along with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch.

Source: SOCOG