Australia Up Close Australians Celebrate New Millennium With Gala Bashes By DARREN McLEAN	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
豪ではミレニアムを派手にお祝い 2000年のカウントダウンの瞬間、シドニーやゴールドコーストでは、過去最大規模のたくさんの花火が打ち上げられ、人々はお祭り騒ぎに酔いしれました。筆者はというと、地元のカフェのオールナイトコンサートでピアノ演奏。こちらも盛り上がったようです。

Fireworks sounded loud and clear from all major towns and cities across Australia to welcome the year 2000. Pyrotechnic displays were the flavor of the night along with good times and high hopes for the new millennium.

Sydney hosted the most extravagant New Year's celebrations Australia has seen. Some 1.5 million people and 6,000 boats flocked to Sydney Harbor for a view of the A$6 million (¥420 million) fireworks spectacular. Sydney Harbor Bridge was set ablaze with fountains of fire and colorful explosions.

In my hometown, the Gold Coast, locals and tourists prepared months ahead. Some people traveled to the many beaches, parks, restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs along the coastal strip while others chose to relax at home.

In the middle of Surfers Paradise an A$80,000 (¥5.6 million) millennium clock counted down the century's remaining few hours. On the stroke of midnight a massive 20 tons of fireworks exploded from five different beach locations. It took six months to prepare the 15-minute display, giving the onlookers a dazzling but noisy welcome to the new year.

The beach fireworks were complemented by an equally impressive lightning storm out at sea. The storm, which lashed Australia's east coast days before, was a timely reminder that mother nature will still govern this planet through the next millennium.

The entire Gold Coast community was in a fire frenzy with illegal fireworks being set off from backyards and rooftops, and several street bonfires.

In general, however, the night's celebrations were more laid back than expected giving the thousands of police a trouble-free and relaxed evening.

Two Gold Coast couples had more reason to celebrate when they were married at midnight, as did Kyle and Rebecca Owens from Coomera, who had son Jack just minutes into the new millennium.

Partygoers on the Queensland - New South Wales border got to celebrate the new year twice due to the one-hour time difference between states.

A few hours south of the Gold Coast is Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point and the first Australian town to see in the new century. Byron Bay may well have been the loudest of all celebrations as well, when a 2.7-meter gong, believed to be the world's biggest, sounded on the stroke of midnight.

As a musician, my night was spent entertaining the crowd at a small beachside cafe. The audience enjoyed a seafood buffet and champagne then danced until the early hours before hitting the beach to watch the century's first sunrise.

Auld Lang Syne was a popular request at midnight, as were dance songs from the '60s and '70s. Silver hair and clothing was popular for the outrageous who wanted to celebrate in style.

On New Year's Day attention turned to the highly publicized Y2K bug. The government reported no major disruptions to any major services, such as banks, hospitals, airports or power supplies.

It appears the dreaded millennium bug was exterminated after Australia spent A$12 billion (¥840 billion) on cleanup operations. Australians are concerned the entire exercise was a computer industry con.

The New Year's celebrations were a great chance to look back on an outstanding year for Australian sports. Just before New Year's Australians were crowned world champions in tennis, winning the Davis Cup, and having Pat Rafter reach the world No. 1 spot after his second consecutive U.S. Open win.

Other world championships won by Australian teams throughout 1999 include rugby union and league, cricket, hockey and netball, as well as individual world champions in swimming, surfing, golf and athletics.

The new millennium signals the start of the Olympic year. There is increasing excitement and anticipation, especially in host city Sydney, as we count down the months to Australia's largest-ever sporting event.

Whatever your hopes and aspirations may be for the new millennium, I would like to wish you all a happy and successful year!

Shukan ST: Jan. 14, 2000

(C) All rights reserved