Celebrating Our Legacy: ACO at the Sydney 2000 Olympics

Twenty-five years ago, the world watched as Sydney lit up the stage for the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was a moment of pride for Australia — and a milestone achievement for ACO.

Back in the late 1980s, Sydney dared to dream of hosting the Games. By the early 1990s, the decision was made to transform Homebush Bay — then a mix of abattoirs, munitions depots, brick pits and wetlands — into what would become Sydney Olympic Park, the beating heart of the Games.

At the centre of this vision stood two flagship facilities: the Sydney International Athletics Centre (SIAC) and a world-class Aquatic Centre. These venues not only showcased Sydney’s capability but also set the stage for ACO to make its mark on history.

ACO at the Heart of the Action

When the world’s best athletes stepped onto the Olympic track, they competed on a surface designed to perfection — right down to the drainage beneath their feet. Working with Canberra’s design engineers R. A. Young, ACO’s locally manufactured Polycrete® Channels were chosen to line the tracks at SIAC and its warm-up facility. Installed by Balsam Pty Ltd, over 400 metres of drainage and covers ensured world-class performance.

But our contribution didn’t stop there.

• At the Main Olympic Stadium, ACO supplied precision drainage for the running track — ensuring the surface met the exacting standards of Olympic competition.
• At Olympic Park Station, one of the first venues completed, 300 metres of trench drains kept pedestrian flows safe and dry.
• Along the iconic Olympic Boulevard, the pathway that linked every venue, ACO delivered 4,500 metres of purpose designed trench drains, helping to unify the precinct and welcome millions of visitors.
• Across the entire Olympic Park, our cable pits and access covers discreetly supported the cable infrastructure required for the Games.

The Games of a Lifetime

The Sydney Olympics are still remembered as the “best ever” — a Games that combined sporting brilliance with seamless organisation. For ACO, it was more than just a project. It was a chance t

o be part of history, to see our products supporting record-breaking performances, and to know that our work helped deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes and fans alike.

A Lasting Legacy

Two decades later, Sydney Olympic Park continues to thrive as a world-class sporting and entertainment hub. The infrastructure we

helped deliver has stood the test of time, a testament to the quality, innovation, and dedication that ACO brings to every project.

As we look back with pride, we also look forward — continuing to deliver the same world-class solutions to projects across Australia and around the globe.

Sydney 2000 was a golden moment for sport. For ACO, it was also a golden moment of innovation, collaboration, and legacy.