Death of Pierre Trudeau
Near the end of the Summer Olympics, on 28 September, Canadian athletes learned that former prime minister (from 1968 to 1984), Pierre Trudeau, had died. Owing to time difference, it was 29 September in Sydney.
Juan Antonio Samaranch, presiding over his last Olympics as IOC president, ordered the Canadian flag at athletes' village lowered to half-staff on orders from Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy. As the flag was lowered, Canadian athletes paid tribute to Trudeau During medal ceremonies, whenever the Canadian flag flew, it was flown at half-mast, also on orders from Samaranch and Axworthy. They both ordered the Canadian flag flown at half-staff for the remainder of the Olympics, as the state funeral didn't take place until 3 October.
Read more about this topic: Canada At The 2000 Summer Olympics
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