Statement on Opening Ceremony suit worn by Cathy Freeman

Melbourne police have taken possession of an item of clothing which could be the bodysuit worn by Cathy Freeman in the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The clothing was handed to police by a staff member of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) who received it anonymously.

The suit worn by Cathy Freeman when she lit the Olympic Flame in September 2000 disappeared from her dressing room in Stadium Australia and has not been seen for 14 years.

On that night, Cathy was soaked while standing under a waterfall after a mechanical fault delayed the lighting of the cauldron. She removed the suit after the ceremony and it has not been seen since.

What happened to the suit has been the subject of much debate over the years as it is a major part of Australia’s Olympic history.

We are hoping the item of clothing handed to the MCC Museum is authentic and the mystery is finally solved.

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