It was dubbed by officials as the 'best Olympic Games ever' and now a decade later, Australia will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games on Wednesday 15 September.

This comes as Australia continue our bid to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Australia in 2022.

And one of the heroes of Sydney 2000, Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman, is also strong supporter of the bid.

"Australia is the best choice to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022 because we have experience that we have grown out of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. We are a sports loving nation and football is our growing passion," Freeman said.

"I have experienced the power and passion of an Australian crowd - I only have to draw on my experience from the Sydney Olympics 2000. We are a welcoming country for all those who come here to compete.

"The 2022 FIFA World Cup™ held here in Australia will unite Australia - just as the Sydney 2000 Olympics did. We are a fantastic place to visit and as Australians we are friendly," she added.

As a show of her support, Freeman met a delegation of FIFA inspectors in July this year, when they visited Australia to examine the credentials of Australia's Bid to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022. Freeman relived the experience of winning Gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for the delegates at the scene of the event, Stadium Australia.

Australia's track record in staging successful major sporting events is well documented.

"This is our opportunity to showcase to the world the very best of who we are. I encourage all Australians to support our country's bid by adding your name to www.australiabid.com.au," Freeman said.

FIFA's 24 executive members will select a host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, which will be announced by FIFA on 2 December 2010 in Zurich. It is here that as a nation we hope the famous phrase 'and the winner is...' ends with one word. Australia.