The Athletes' Favourite
The Sun Herald
Saturday July 17, 1993
Damian Keogh has spent the last 13 years travelling the world playing basketball for Australia, making him a well- qualified speaker on what athletes want from a city that hosts the Olympic Games. The playing career of the tall Sydney-sider includes the Los Angeles, Seoul and Barcelona Olympics and numerous other tournaments which has seen him go from city to city, in and out of hotels, on and off buses, and he has met thousands of athletes and locals.
Although he has yet to pick up a medal from an Olympics, just being there is enough for him.
"Only a small number of athletes can win gold medals and in many ways just competing in the Games is an enormous triumph for individuals," said Keogh.
"The Olympic Games is about excellence. The achievements of the world's greatest sports-people in Olympic competition live on in our memory."
Keogh's quest for Olympic excellence started when he was 10 years old.
At the time he was inspired by the incredible feats of a 15 year old Australian schoolgirl Shane Gould who conquered world swimming by capturing three Gold medals and breaking three world records at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
After experiencing three Olympics, Keogh says excellence must also be achieved by the city selected to host the Games.
"I am very lucky - I have visited many beautiful and diverse countries and experienced a broad range of cultures," he said.
"However the more I travel the more I appreciate the lifestyle, people, opportunities and beauty of my native country, Australia.
"Sydney in particular is a city which offers so much. With all the features of one of the world's most progressive and cosmopolitan cities, Sydney maintains that elusive quality of an easy going and relaxed lifestyle."
Sydney's bid for the 2000 Olympics is based on making the 2000 Olympics the"Athletes' Games" and has enlisted the support of key Olympians on an advisory committee to ensure that no detail, comfort, convenience or necessity is overlooked.
Keogh said this plan will prove popular with athletes as Sydney is already a favourite with competitors in many sports.
"Athletes enjoy Sydney's world-class facilities, organisational expertise, fine accommodation and cuisine but most of all they are touched by the hospitality of Sydney-siders," he said.
"The people of Sydney truly want the Games and it is the will of the people which ensures a great experience for the athletes.
"For example - there are around 140 ethnic communities in Sydney - this means every country has a ready-made cheer squad in Sydney.
"The physical beauty, climate, security, and stability, the city's infrastructure in terms of transport, health, security and accommodation and the brilliance of the Sydney plan are such that the 2000 Olympics in Sydney will be a huge success," Keogh said.
Despite the best in planning and organisation, Keogh said the key to making the Games truly special lie in the attitude of local people.
"From an athletes perspective thay I cannot think of a city which could do a better job of hosting the Games in 2000 than Sydney".
© 1993 The Sun Herald
