Individual and team gold medals will be awarded in a record 296 events at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Games organisers said yesterday.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said 28 different sports had been included on the programme and the total of medal events was 25 higher than at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The opening ceremony for the Sydney Games will be on Friday, September 15th, with the closing ceremony scheduled for Sunday, October 1st.