The month opens with a trip to Amsterdam for Mick McCarthy's Ireland team. An early carnival in the Amsterdam Arena, brought on by goals from Robbie Keane and Jason McAteer, is quelled by two second-half Dutch goals. It is, however, the brightest night for Irish soccer in several years. A week later, Kilkenny, beaten in the last two All-Ireland hurling finals, come to Croke Park. Offaly, their old enemies, are the opponents. A blistering early goal from DJ Carey sets the tone and the Cats romp home in a style that suggests the old order has been restored. Kilkenny are still celebrating hard when the biggest sports show on earth opens in Sydney. In a matter of three minutes and 40 seconds, Ian Thorpe becomes the story of the Olympics. The 17year-old local boy smashes the men's 400 metre freestyle and swims the anchor leg for Australia in the 400 metre relay. Thorpe is regarded as a rare example of purity in a tournament which seems to be riddled with substance abusers. Question marks fall on American track and field star Marion Jones after it emerges that her husband, CJ Hunter, had recently tested positive for a banned substance.

Undeterred, Jones confirms herself as the pre-eminent female sprint athlete, taking gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 relay final. Micheal Johnson coasts to the 400 gold. Irish hopes rest on Sonia O'Sullivan. On an emotional evening in Homebush, still buzzing after Cathy Freeman's historic 400 run, O'Sullivan runs one of the races of her life, taking silver after an unforgettable sprint finish with Gabriela Szabo. Late in the evening, with some of the crowd already drifting out of Homebush, the legendary Haile Gebrselassie provides the defining moment of the Games. In one of their greatest races ever, he edges out his old rival Paul Tergat on the finishing line to win the 10,000 metres. At home, Kerry and Galway must replay the All-Ireland football final.