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Tourism is the fuel that drives the city, or at the very least the oil in its engine. As the principal gateway to the continent and with over two million international visitors each year, it is perhaps inevitable and remains on the increase. Although the city’s assets were never a great secret, the 2000 Olympic Games and the subsequent declaration of Olympics Committee President, Juan Samaranch that they were the ‘best ever’ only enhanced this image. With record-breaking amounts of money spent on inner-city rejuvenation, improved infrastructure and some of the most modern sporting venues on the planet, it set the stage for Sydney to show off its wares and its deep love affair with the sporting lifestyle. More importantly for Australians, it was yet another opportunity to prove their mighty sporting talent and world dominance beyond the traditional rugby union and cricket. It is, after all, Sydney’s very own human version of a harbour ferry – Ian Thorpe (nicknamed the ‘Thorpedo’) – who proved in no uncertain terms that swimming should be added to the list. Then, on terra firma, and with much smaller feet, there were others, like 400 m runner Kathy Freeman, who showed with unflappable determination that despite the contentious issues surrounding Aboriginals, their flag could be held aloft in front of over 100,000 mainly white Australians with just as much credence and celebration as any other. Although exceptionally strong at sport, some argue that Sydney consistently loses much of its cultural talent overseas. It is however enjoying something of a resurgence in recent years, especially in the medium of film. Hi-tech blockbusters, starring some of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, like Matrix II (Keanu Reeves), Mission Impossible II (Tom Cruise) and the new Star Wars trilogy were all filmed or partly filmed in Sydney and compete with the home-grown talents and successes of Australia’s very own stars like Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett and Guy Pearce (Russell Crowe, star of Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind, was actually born in New Zealand). So what of the future for Sydney, this brash, young city with an exuberance and outlook that reflects its tender age, a city that yearns so much for independence, that defies nature and yet, beneath the facade, is dependent on the moist coastal climate? Will natural bush fires continue to tear chunks from the fringes of the city and human social issues continue to trouble its people? Will terrorism one day strike at Sydney's very heart? These questions are impossible to answer. What is sure is that although on the surface she is almost sickeningly beautiful, vain, a show off, a material girl and behind the facade has some deep-seated problems, Sydney is also genuinely happy, friendly and always great company.
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