Pubs and clubs screening Aussie Olympic athletes competing for gold will be able to stay open later in a special exception to Sydney's lockout laws.
Licenced venues will be permitted to stay open beyond their normal hours to allow Australians to cheer on our athletes during key events, the NSW Government announced on Friday.
"While you might not be able to replicate the atmosphere in Rio, getting down to your local with some friends and cheering on our Aussie heroes has got to be the next best thing," Deputy Premier Troy Grant said in a statement.
Aside from the extension for city venues, those outside the lockout zones will be able to open for an extra six hours between 4am and 10am on Sunday, August 21 for the women's basketball and men's football finals and for an extra hour until 5am on Monday, August 22 for the men's basketball final.
The special regulation will also extend opening hours at venues from 10pm to midnight for the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 2 this year.
