The Barcelona Olympic Foundation celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with an emotional event held at the Auditorium of the Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch, bringing together more than forty Olympic athletes who took part in that historic event, the first Games of the new century.
The event, part of the History Forum sessions organized by the Barcelona Olympic Foundation, was opened by the Museum’s Director, Francesc Terrón, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of preserving Olympic memory and the legacy of those who have contributed to the growth of Spanish sport.
The celebration, attended by a large audience, brought together athletes, referees and officials who participated in Sydney 2000. Their reflections recalled one of the most brilliant chapters in Spanish Olympism, led by a generation that marked a before and after in the nation’s sporting history.
Among the highlights of the day were Gervasio Deferr (gold in vault, Spain’s first Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics), María Vasco (bronze in 20 km walk, the first Olympic medal for Spanish women’s athletics), Joan Capdevila and Gabri García (silver in football), Gabriel Esparza (silver in taekwondo, Spain’s first Olympic medal in this sport) and Javier Bosma (beach volleyball, fifth place), who took part in a roundtable discussion moderated by historian Aitor Lagunas.
During the event, the athletes shared stories, emotions and experiences from their time in Sydney, emphasizing the Olympic spirit that continues to unite them 25 years later. Many of them highlighted the importance of those Games as a turning point for Spanish sport, both in results and in international visibility.
The meeting also featured an interview area, where journalists and athletes were able to have close conversations about the evolution of Olympic sport and the challenges faced by new generations.
