Olly, Syd, Millie and Lizzie

Olly, Syd and Millie
Mascots of the 2000 Summer Olympics (Sydney)
CreatorMatthew Hattan and Jozef Szekeres
SignificanceA kookaburra (Olly), a platypus (Syd) and an echidna (Millie) named after the short term for Olympics, Sydney and Millennium
Lizzie
Mascot of the 2000 Summer Paralympics (Sydney)
CreatorMatthew Hattan and Jozef Szekeres
SignificanceA Frill-necked Lizard

Olly, Syd and Millie were the official mascots of the 2000 Summer Olympics, and Lizzie was the official mascot of the 2000 Summer Paralympics, both held in Sydney, Australia.

Olly, Syd and Millie were named by Philip Sheldon from advertising agency DMBB. Olly (from Olympics) the kookaburra represents air and the Olympic spirit of generosity. Syd (from Sydney) the platypus represents water, the environment, and the energy of Australia and its population. Millie (from Millennium) the echidna represents technology and the earth. The mascots were designed by Matthew Hattan and Jozef Szekeres.

The mascot for the 2000 Paralympics was Lizzie the frill-necked lizard, a native Australian lizard which inhabits northern parts of the country. The shape of the character's frill represented the geographical shape of the country, and the ochre colour of Lizzie's body aimed to mirror the colour of the land. The animal was chosen because of its survival instincts and tenacity, and was intended to represent the character traits of Paralympic athletes.

Lizzie's voice was provided by Olivia Newton-John, who made appearances alongside Lizzie leading up and during the Games.

The visibility of and community engagement with Lizzie outpaced that of the other three Olympic mascots. The Australian Paralympic Committees noted the significant branding capital and realised that this could be leveraged in the future.

In 2021, Lizzie made a return as a part of the Royal Australian Mint's "Aussie Heroes" $2 coin collection and, later, a sticker pack promoted in Woolworths made for the 2020 Summer Olympics.