It was not unusual to spot roller blading Carmen Mirandas swishing through the streets of Kogarah in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics 2000. The colourful spectacle of the mobile Carmens and other street performers, as well as a multitude of dishes from around the world, contributed to the international flavour of Kogarah Council’s Olympic Street Festival.
As with many other New South Wales municipalities, Kogarah hosted a street festival sponsored by the NSW Ethnic Affairs Commission to celebrate Sydney’s ethnic and cultural diversity during the Olympics.
A highlight of the Kogarah festival was the presentation of Australian Sports Medals to three residents who have made significant contributions to sports in Australia. The medals, awarded as part of Australia’s system of honours, were presented to Duncan Page, Cliff Walker and Gerry Hay, all who have a variety of sporting credits to their name.
Kogarah Council’s participation in the Olympic Street Festivals in the lead up to the Olympics aimed to provide the community with the opportunity to promote the benefits of a culturally diverse society. The significance of the community’s diversity is put into context when it is considered that nearly half of the people in New South Wales were born overseas or have one or both parents born overseas.
