Barcelona had Jose Carreras. Atlanta had Celine Dion. The Sydney games will have John Farnham. John who? Yes, the Australians have opted for a string of "B" list celebs for the opening ceremony and have shunned top international acts. Farnham, whose career was launched some decades ago with Sadie the Cleaning Lady, will be joined by Olivia Newton-John of Grease fame, Vanessa Amorosi and Tina Arena.

Arena made her West End debut this year in a musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame which was hammered by London critics as "a load of old bells."