We gazed in awe at the grandeur, but were still eager to get inside one of the structures. Several of us noticed the bathroom complex and I was reminded of the environmental theme of the games when I found that only icy cold water ran from the faucets. A week earlier, University of Wollongong Professor Gordon Waitt prepared our class for the Olympic visit. He gave a lecture on his research into the ways Australian officials had marketed Sydney during the bid process. We were also made mindful that Homebush Bay was once a chemical waste site and landfill.
Poisonous byproducts remain just below the surface of the rolling hills of the park.
Among the chemicals is a form of chlorinated herbicide that is a constituent in Agent Orange. These facts clash with Australia's image of a pristine, untouched environment that also helped Sydney win the bid. With all this in mind, we prepared for our guided tour of Stadium Australia. We whirled through tunnels and hallways and were shown locker rooms, elegant formal dining rooms and full-scale lounges. Throughout the tour, I couldn't help but notice how much glass had been used in the construction, allowing natural light to filter in.