The Opera House shimmers on placid waters. A ferry slips silently under the majestic Harbor Bridge, escaping the gaze of tourists gossiping at a dockside cafe. On the surface, Sydney is ready to welcome the world. All the Olympic venues are complete, and the city is eager to show itself as one of the world's financial and cultural centers.
Possible problems await, too.
Aborigines say they'll protest during the Sept. 15-Oct. 1 games. Train derailments and airport blackouts have outraged Sydneysiders the past few months. The Summer Games are set for Australia's early spring, so rain might make things messy. And although most people are excited about the arrival of 10,200 athletes and the world's attention, many think Sydney would be just fine without a two-week extravaganza that will clog roads and restaurants. Unlike four years ago, when Atlantans smothered their games in enthusiasm and commercialism, Sydney residents are typically laid back about Australia's first Olympics since the 1956 Melbourne Games.