Capacity: 110,000

Location: Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay

Olympic Sports: Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Athletics

Football

Dates: Opening Ceremony: 15 September

Closing Ceremony: 1 October

Athletics: 22 Sept-1 October

Football: 16-30 September

Distance from Sydney City: 14km

Construction Cost: 690 million dollars (414million US dollars, 276million pounds)

The centrepiece of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games is also the largest outdoor venue in Olympic history.

The Olympic Stadium has a capacity of 110,000, and four Boeing 747s would fit side-by-side under the span of the main arches of the grandstands.

The stadium has been fully tested.

A rugby league double header drew a crowd of 104,583 in March 1999 and the Bledisloe Cup match last August between Australia and New Zealand attracted a world record rugby union crowd of 107,042.

However, athletes at the Australian track and field championships in April complained of swirling winds.

Builders said different wind patterns in September would shield competitors from conditions which could ruin any world record attempts.