What if the Queen Decides not to Open the Sydney Olympic Games?
If one accepts that the Queen is the Australian Head of State and must open the Sydney Olympic Games as prescribed by the Olympic Charter of the IOC, a question arises of what would happen if the Queen declined. Such an issue is most likely to arise were the Australian Government to advise the Queen that she should not open the Sydney Olympic Games. If the Queen did not open the Sydney Olympic Games the Governor-General could because he holds such powers and functions of the Queen as she assigns to him (section 2 of the Constitution). In other words, the Queen could direct the Governor-General to represent her and open the Sydney Olympic Games. Following the precedent set by the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, the Queen could send the Duke of Edinburgh to represent her and open the Sydney Olympic Games. If the Queen determined that she would not open the Sydney Olympic Games, did not send a representative, and would not direct the Governor-General to represent her, the City of Sydney mig
