Abstract:
The article examines disability and accessissuessurrounding the Sydney 2000
Olympic and Paralympic Games. Central to this is an examination of the involvement of
the Australian community of people with disabilities [lJ within the Games. The Sydney
Paralympic Games, in particular, was seen as a possible watershed event for developing
accessibleinfrastructure, and raising awareness of disability and access issues. This paper
draws on the official documents of the Games, newspaper accounts and disability organisation
reports. The article first examines the major bodies charged with organising the
Games, and the planning processesused to incorporaiedisability and access issues. It then
examines a range of critical issues and their relationships with the disability community.
FinaUy, the article provides an analysis of any likely legacies that the 2000 Games may
have for Sydney's community of people with disabilities.
