Twenty years ago today, the Olympic torch was lit in Sydney.
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It's a moment remembered fondly by many locals. Some had carried the torch when it came through Armidale three weeks before the opening ceremony. Others were volunteers at the games. Or coach drivers transporting officials around the venues.
Brian Flint was no stranger to the Olympic experience.
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The Armidale man never competed, although he was a weightlifter who could lift what is called Olympic level. In 1972 he was in Munich for the Games, where terrorists killed two Israeli athletes.
"We were talking to the poor old Israelis a few hours before they were shot and killed. That night they flew everyone out in helicopters."
In 2000 he was in Sydney for the opening ceremony, where Aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic flame.
Ten days later he was in the stadium again when Freeman won gold in the 400m race.
"I took my son to the Sydney Olympics, I bought $10,000 worth of tickets. We were sitting right near the start where Cathy Freeman was setting up for the 400 metres."
He described it as incredible to see her win.
"Me and 114,000 other people. Australia was so proud of her."
Another local resident, Henry Potts, had arrived in Sydney before the Olympics got underway, where he was working as a volunteer.
"I was stationed first at Carriage Works in Eveleigh Street, Redfern, where all the athletes would come to collect their uniforms," Henry said.
Once the games started he was transferred to the Olympics site at Homebush where he was busy directing people and traffic, helping people find their way to venues, where to sit, and helping people who were lost.
"There were lots of questions to answer. Once everyone had settled you could watch some of the games, though I was mostly outside."
Before heading to the Games, Brian Flint had been selected to be one of the torch bearers in Armidale. Steve Widders was another, who recalled that he was the second last local runner.
The Olympic torch had arrived in Australia in early June, starting in the Northern Territory before being carried through every state and territory over the next 100 days before arriving in Sydney for the start of the Games.
It came through Armidale on Monday, August 21, 2000.
"The atmosphere in Armidale was just amazing, the whole town was waiting for it to arrive," Brian said. "There's been nothing like it, the streets were lined."
He recalled he was just one of many who took part.
"Jock Bullen carried it down to Wicklow Oval to light the cauldron. The council have still got the old cauldron. It burned all night."
When it comes to locals participating at the Games, cycling mechanic Jock Bullen tops the list.
He tended the machines of the Australian track and/or road cycling teams at seven Olympic Games - Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). He declined the offer to make it number eight in London.
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During that time he assisted and befriended the cream of Australia's elite cyclists, including Kenrick Tucker, Gary Niewand, Michael Turtur, Stewart O'Grady, Bradley McGee, Shane Kelly, Kathy Watts, Anna Meares and Cadel Evans.
Unlike Bullen's record, for many of those involved 20 years ago, the Sydney Olympic Games were a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Henry Potts said he met a lot of people including athletes like swimmers Kieran Perkins and Susie O'Neil, and boxer Jeff Fenech. The then NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan was another.
"I look at it like this, I was part of history. Australia won't get another Olympics, not in my lifetime anyway," Henry said.