The crowds are slick with sweat as they watch the competitors in the Olympic men's triathlon. The athletes glisten as they wind their way around the city's harbour and through its lush Botanic Gardens.
Olympic volunteers sound their whistles as the athletes approach, and cheers go up in anticipation.
Straining for a glimpse, throngs of people stomp and clap before they can see the men and continue even after they pass. The roar moves like a wave through the tunnel of spectators, chasing the triathletes around the course. The emotion is raw and palpable. But it's clear that the events here aren't all about sport. There's a race for dollars, too.