Biggest Paralympics Ever

Renegades member, Brett Holcombe, represented Australia in the Standing Volleyball at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. With many of the facilities such as IBM's FanM@il switched off after the Olympics though, it became difficult to keep in touch with the Paralympians in Sydney during the event. Instead, we had to rely on the slowly updated olympics.com web site for results.

There were some great performances from the Australians, winning sets over world champions Poland and eventual gold medalists, Germany. Unfortunately though, the Australian team was generally out-classed in the Games, finishing eighth overall without a win.

The Australian and Cambodian standing volleyball teams lining up before the start of their match.
(Photo taken by Kev Lentin, PhotoPoint Album)

In the Sitting Volleyball, a sport not seen by many before the Paralympics (indeed, some of us weren't even sure whether they played in wheelchairs or on the floor - with a smaller court and lower net, the game is played sitting on the floor), the Australians faired slightly better, with a final match win over the USA to finish eleventh.