POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Relay batons made for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Object No. 2001/84/319

These four aluminium relay batons were manufactured by the United States Company, United Canvas & Sling (UCS), for track events at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. A complete set would have included eight, individually coloured batons that would have been used in random order. These examples have been safety-rolled to avoid sharp and uneven edges, and have been silk-screen printed to feature the Olympic rings, the UCS logo and 'Sydney 2000'wording. Together, the batons represent the Sydney 2000 branding that visually coordinated all SOCOG sports equipment. The colours for the Sydney 2000 relay batons came directly from the Sydney colour palette - a compilation of eleven tones that reflected the tonal contrasts of Australian culture and landscapes. These four examples feature Sydney blue (the principal colour in the palette), Sydney lime, Sydney yellow and Sydney cyan. (The complete sets included four additional batons in Sydney red, Sydney rubine, Sydney silver and Sydney purple.) The correct application of Sydney 2000 colours and branding was described in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Image Guidelines, and was overseen by the Sydney 2000 Image Department. Only official sponsors and licensees, such as UCS, were entitled to carry the Olympic rings and Sydney 2000 wording on their products. The batons would have been used in men's and women's 4 x 100- metre relay and 4 x 400-metre relay at Stadium Australian on 29 and 30 September 2000. These were part of the 47 athletic events of Olympic competition.