The Sydney Olympic Games were formally closed by International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch on .

Samaranch closed the Games with the traditional invitation to the world's youth to reassemble in four years time for the next Olympics, which will be staged in Athens.

Samaranch, presiding over his last Olympics before stepping down next year, praised the Sydney Games as "the best ever".

The Spanish IOC chief traditionally bestows that accolade on host cities of Summer Games but significantly refused to do that four years ago at the much-criticised Atlanta Games.

Samaranch, whose wife died during the Sydney Games, echoed the widely-held view that the 27th Olympiad has been a spectacular success in his closing speech.

Referring to his announcement seven years ago that Sydney had beaten off opposition from Beijing to stage the 2000 pageant, Samaranch said: "Seven years ago I said 'and the winner is Sydney'. Well what can I say now?"

The octagenarian, making special reference to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, said: "You have helped to write a glorious chapter in the history of Australia."

AFP