Sydney Millennium Games open today

The 27th Olympic Games which is a festival of peace and cooperation for 6 billion people around the world will hold an opening ceremony on September 15 for a 17 day of fierce competition.

The first Olympic for the new millenium will be underway following the opening ceremony at 5 p.m. (Korean Standard Time) at the stadium in the Homebush Bay Olympic Park in Australia with about 15,300 athletes from around 200 nations including the two Koreas and Australia.

During the opening ceremony, for the first time in the history of modern Olympic Games, the two Koreas still considered two separate nations will march under one name, Korea, and enter the stadium as the 97th nation, drawing the attention and interest of the world.

With 300 gold medals in 28 events at stake, the first day on September 16 will begin the medal race with the target shooting followed by fencing, cycling and judo. For the very first day, 13 medals will be up for grabs to heighten the sense of competition in the medal race.

Korea is represented by 184 athletes and 114 members of the entourage and hopes to win over 10 gold medals in the Taek-Won-Do, Archery, Judo, and Wrestling, placing Korea in the top 10 nations for the last 5 Olympic Games, consecutively.