FAQ Topics

• World Youth Day
• Transport - Local Residents
• Transport - Participants
• Health
• Police and Personal Security
• Tourism
• Environment

What is World Youth Day 2008?

World Youth Day (WYD) is organised by the Catholic Church and is the largest youth event in the world. It will attract young people from around Australia and the world and aims to build bridges of friendship between continents, peoples and cultures.

In August 2005, Sydney was chosen to host the XXIII World Youth Day. The announcement was made by Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne at the conclusion of the XX World Youth Day.

WYD08 will be the occasion of the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.

For further information visit the WYD08 website at www.wyd2008.org.

When will it take place?

World Youth Day 2008 is a six day program that will be held in Sydney from 15-20 July 2008. You can expect to see lots of people in Sydney in the days leading up to the official event program. A number of lead-up events, including Days in the Dioceses and the 15 day Journey of the Cross and Icon, will mean that people will be hosted throughout Australia in the days and weeks prior to WYD08. For detailed information visit WYD08 Program of Events.

Why is the NSW Government supporting this event?

Sydney has a reputation for successfully hosting large-scale international events; among them the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympic Games. The NSW and Commonwealth Governments and the City of Sydney supported the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney in its bid to secure this event for Sydney. 

 The NSW Department of State and Regional Development estimates that the gross value-add to the NSW economy will be more than $150 million. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce's independent experts say the benefits to the economy will be more like $231 million.

We also expect that a proportion of pilgrims will want to return to Australia as tourists or recommend to others that they visit. The tourism industry is worth $23 billion to the NSW economy.

It is in all our interests that World Youth Day 2008 is a success and that Sydney continues to be seen as an internationally desirable tourist destination.

How many people are expected to come?

More than 500,000 people are expected to attend the Final Mass on Sunday 20 July -more than during the 2000 Olympics. Of these, we are expecting about 125,000 from overseas and 100,000 from other parts of Australia.

How will Sydney's public transport system cope with the influx of people?

Naturally, with such an influx of people, transport services will be affected. As happened during the Olympics, we will be providing detailed information of road closures, special event clearways, additional public transport services and alternative arrangements in the weeks leading up to the event. You should take note of this information and plan when and how you travel during this period. Your patience is appreciated.

We have requested that registered pilgrims travel outside peak hour to help commuters get to and from work.

Where can I get transport information if I am not participating in WYD08?

If you are not taking part in WYD08, we encourage you to consider making arrangements to avoid event areas. WYD08 is being held during the July school holidays. For tips on booking holidays and short breaks outside of Sydney go to the Tourism NSW Website.

Transport information for those not participating in World Youth Day events is available here to download. You may also download a copy from www.131500.info, or pick up a copy from most CityRail stations, Sydney Buses TransitShops, Sydney Ferries' wharves and major RTA Motor Registry Offices in the CBD. Information on private bus services is available from private operators. Click here for contact details for private bus operators in the Sydney area.

Will local residents be inconvenienced?

There will be large crowds in Sydney during World Youth Day. Additional train and bus services have been scheduled however services will be crowded. We appreciate your patience.

Residents living near major events, like the Evening Vigil and Final Mass at Randwick Racecourse may be affected as some roads leading to the venue will be closed. Residents can find out more about the impacts on their suburb here.

Should I work from home during the week of WYD08?

We have asked WYD08 participants to travel outside peak hours (7.00 - 10.00 am and 4.00 - 7.00 pm) to minimise the disruption to those people not participating. We are making no specific recommendation regarding working from home. This is a decision for individual businesses to make.

Individual businesses may decide to encourage staff to work from home during WYD08 events and you should contact your employer for information on this. If you don't need or want to be in the Sydney CBD during WYD08 it may be wise to consider alternatives.

TRANSPORT - PARTICIPANTS

What transport will be available for participants on arrival in Australia?

On arrival at Sydney Airport you will be able to travel by either train, taxi or hire car to your accommodation site. If you travel by train, there are railway stations at both the International and Domestic terminals. You will need to purchase a ticket from either the station’s ticket office or ticket vending machine before you travel. A single adult ticket from the International Airport to Central Station costs $13.80.

Train services from the airport connect you to Central Station which is at the heart of the train network. At Central Station you will be able to transfer to any line on the train network to take you to your accommodation. Click here to calculate how much the fare will cost from Central Station to the station closest to your accommodation site.

What arrangements will be in place for participant’s transport during WYD08 activities?

Additional train and bus services will operate throughout the Sydney suburban area during World Youth Day to get participants to and from WYD08 events. Sydney has an excellent public transport system with an extensive train, bus and ferry network.

Registered participants will be issued with a "Pilgrim Passport" which includes free travel on suburban trains and most bus services (both private and Government buses).  The boundaries for suburban train services are Bondi Junction, Berowra, Carlingford, Richmond, Emu Plains, Macarthur, Waterfall and Cronulla.  

Simply wear your Pilgrim Passport around your neck and you will be able to travel on the trains and buses.

Further information on the Pilgrim Passport will be included in your Pilgrim Transport Guide.

Where can I get transport information if I am participating?

You will receive a comprehensive Pilgrim Transport Guide in your registration pack with useful information about getting to World Youth Day events. This guide also includes tips on how travel to each event, information on wheelchair accessible railway stations, buses and ferries, maps as well as tourist information for Sydney and New South Wales. It is your one-stop guide for travelling around Sydney.

What innoculations will I require to visit Australia?

It is strongly recommended that you are immunised against the following diseases:

• Measles**, mumps, rubella (make sure that you have had two doses sometime during your life)
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (make sure that you were immunised as a child, and – if available -- that you have received booster doses)
• Polio** (make sure that you were immunised as a child and have received booster doses)

• The current season’s influenza vaccine
• Meningococcal disease serogroup C (if available)
• Chickenpox (if you have never had the infection)

** = Measles and polio are especially important.

Any person over the age of one year from a yellow fever infected country is required to posses a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever.

What medicines or information should I bring with me?

Pilgrims travelling with medication should clearly label all medication and bring a copy of the original prescription in English. International Pilgrims requiring a medication refill while in Australia may need to visit a doctor for a new prescription, so it is important to travel with a sufficient quantity of the medication.

More detailed health information is available from NSW Health.

What happens if a pilgrim becomes ill?

NSW Health and Ambulance Service of NSW will coordinate the provision of all necessary pre-hospital, hospital and public health arrangements for all participants during WYD08.

Emergency medical services will be available at major venues during WYD08 events.

In non-emergency situations, pilgrims requiring medical assistance are encouraged to access primary health care. Information on the nearest doctor’s office will be available through accommodation sites.

What should I do if my bag is stolen?

If your bag is stolen you should report it to the nearest NSW Police Station or call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

If your bag is stolen at an event, you could approach a member of the NSW Police. There will be members of the NSW Police at all WYD08 events. You will recognise them in their blue uniforms or on presentation of identification.

How do I report a crime?

If you see someone commit a crime at a WYD08 event, you should immediately report it to the nearest police officer. In NSW, there are four (4) ways for a person to report a crime:

1. In a life threatening or time critical emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
2. For non-urgent crime, phone the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 who will take a police report and if necessary, arrange for police to attend.
3. Should you wish to remain anonymous when reporting a crime, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It's a free call and rewards of up to $1,000 are offered for information that leads to an arrest.
4. You can visit your local Police Station to report a crime.

Where can I find more information on travelling in Sydney and NSW?

Go to Tourism NSW’s website, www.sydney.com.

Sydney Visitor Centres provide information on Sydney and the surrounding regions. When you arrive, visit them at:

• Sydney International Airport (Arrivals)
• Darling Harbour, 33 Wheat Rd, (behind Imax Theatre)
• The Rocks, corner Argyle and Playfair Streets, 1800 067 676.

Visitor Information Kiosks are located at:

• Town Hall, corner George and Bathurst streets
• Circular Quay, corner Pitt and Alfred streets
• Martin Place, between Elizabeth and Castlereagh streets.

What will the weather be like during WYD08?

Sydney and the New South Wales coast enjoy a temperate climate. Sydney's average minimum temperature in July is 8°C (46°F) and the average maximum temperature is 16°C (61°F) .

From June to August, it can be very cold in the Snowy Mountains alpine region with a winter minimum average of 0.1°C (30°F).

In outback NSW it can also be very cold at night, with a winter minimum average of 5°C (41°F). For up-to-date weather forecasts, visit www.bom.gov.au.

Sydney has been known to experience some unseasonably warm days in winter which is when WYD08 will be held. It's best to wear layers of clothing so you can be prepared for any change in weather.

Also, make sure you wear a hat, sun protective clothing and sunscreen when you are outdoors - even if it looks cloudy you can still get sunburnt.

What will be the impact of WYD08 on Randwick Racecourse?

Special materials will be placed over the turf to protect it during the event, and special contingency plans are in place should some areas of turf need to be replaced.

What will be the impact of WYD08 on Centennial Park?

WYD2008 and WYDCA is working closely with the Centennial Parklands management to ensure that environmentally sensitive areas of the park are not damaged by crowds of people attending the Final Mass. The park is patrolled by rangers, WYD08 and event marshalls will direct participants to remain within designated areas of the park.

What kind of paper has WYDCA used in its pamphlets for World Youth Day?

Public information brochures produced by the NSW Government in support of WYD08 have been printed on paper with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Environmental certification.

This essentially means that the wood fibre comes from FSC managed and controlled forests which excludes illegally harvested timber and forests where high conservation values are threatened.

The printing process has been processed in accordance with Environmental Management System ISO 140001 Certification. This includes the use of cleaner production processes; soya based inks, Certified Quality System 9001: 2000.