More Early Kickoffs in Sydney

Competition at the Summer Olympics continues tonight even with the official opening ceremony not scheduled until Friday morning at midnight PDT.

The U.S. women’s soccer team plays Norway at 11:30 p.m., one of two matches that start the second day of events at Sydney.

Australia is 18 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time, meaning it is midday in Sydney when The Times goes to press. On a daily basis once the Games begin in full, The Times will be reporting many events on a same-day basis, hours before they are shown on television by NBC and its cable affiliates.

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THORPEDO WARNING

Should 17-year-old Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe falter at the Games, it will be treated as a national disaster with much soul-searching and angst. Page 6

NOTES

Organizers of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games warned members of the IOC to brace for the release of more potentially embarrassing documents. Page 6

NICE PLACE TO VISIT

Sydney is loose and easy, a big city with great weather, solid neighborhoods and beautiful beaches. It’s a town with a comfortable style all its own. E1