World Youth Day 2008
World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney
15 – 20 July
World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08) is a six day celebration that will be held in Sydney between 15 and 20 July 2008. The week-long event has been organised by the Catholic Church and is open to people from around the world and across Australia to attend.
WYD08 is the largest youth event in the world and is expected to draw more international visitors to Sydney than the Olympic Games. The Church expects up to 225,000 registered pilgrims to attend the event during 15-21 July, including 125,000 international pilgrims.
The road and public transport arrangements are being coordinated by the World Youth Day Coordination Authority (WYDCA) in conjunction with other NSW government agencies.
See information and links below for more information on the event, as well as links to transport and traffic arrangements, and specific information for businesses.
About the event
WYD08 events include masses, youth festival events and celebration and catechesis (teaching) sessions which will be held at 300 sites in Sydney CBD and greater Sydney.
The major Sydney CBD venues for WYD08 events include Barangaroo (East Darling Harbour) Hyde Park, The Domain, Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. These venues will principally be used between Tuesday 15 July to Friday 18 July 2008.
Royal Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park will also be used for the Evening Vigil, sleep out under the stars and the Final Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on the weekend of 19 and 20 July.
Visit www.wyd2008.org to find out more about the event, register to participate or volunteer.
Getting around Sydney – Public Transport and road closures
The volume of visitors to Sydney for WYD08 events will require changes to Sydney's transport and traffic arrangements during this time.
There will be greater demand on public transport services as well as road changes to accommodate the movement of the huge numbers of pilgrims and members of the public attending WYD08 events. This may lead to some delays and changes to regular transport and traffic arrangements. Special rail and bus timetables are being designed to help ease the pressure on public transport in Sydney and pilgrims will be asked to limit their travel to non-peak times.
- Transport
For up to date information regarding transport arrangements visit http://www.wydca.nsw.gov.au/transport
- Traffic
There will be significant road closures and special event clearways throughout the CBD and Eastern Suburbs during WYD08. Visit the RTA website for detailed maps for road closures, special clearways and the pilgrimage route.
- Parking
Special resident access parking schemes will be in place in some City of Sydney areas for certain WYD08 events. A letter from WYDCA about alternative parking arrangements has been delivered to areas that will experience changes to on street parking and vehicle access. Some households in Surry Hills on the Pilgrimage Walking route should have also had a NSW Government World Youth Day representative visit them directly to discuss the changes.
Additional information regarding parking for residents in Surry Hills:
As many roads in Surry Hills will be closed or difficult to access over the weekend of 19 and 20 July for the World Youth Day Pilgrimage Walk to Randwick Racecourse, the City is helping to provide alternative parking solutions for residents in Surry Hills, by relaxing parking permit conditions.
Between 8pm Friday 18 July to midday Monday 21 July 2008, City of Sydney Resident Parking Permits for Areas 18, 25 and 29 in Surry Hills may be used in surrounding parking permit precincts with the following Area numbers:
- North of Phillips and Crescent Streets, Redfern - Areas 33 and 41
- South of Oxford Street only; in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Paddington - Areas 15, 18, 25, 27 and 29.
Click here for details on parking scheme precincts. All other normal timed parking restrictions apply in the Surry Hills area.
Parking Rangers will be advised of the temporary arrangements.
Click here for more information on Resident Parking or
call 1300 360 933.
Business briefing sessions
WYDCA is coordinating information forums for local businesses where changes to traffic and transport will be explained, along with steps businesses can take to alleviate any disruption.
The next briefing sessions are as below:
CBD Businesses Final sessions
| When: | Tuesday 1 July, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Wednesday 9 July, 6:00pm – 8.00pm |
| Where: | NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Level 47, MLC Centre 19 Martin Place, Sydney |
Surry Hills Businesses - Cancelled
This Surry Hills briefing has been cancelled due to low attendance numbers. Please contact WYDCA direct for any queries.
| When: | Cancelled: Wednesday, 2 July, 6.00pm – 8.00pm |
| Where: | Cancelled: Medina on Crown, 359 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney |
Chinatown / Haymarket Businesses
| When: | Thursday 3 July, 4.00pm – 6.00pm |
| Where: | Citigate Central Sydney, 169-179 Thomas Street, Sydney |
To register to attend one of these sessions contact WYDCA by email chris.Bastic@wydca.nsw.gov.au or phone 9201 3334.
For more information visit www.wydca.nsw.gov.au/transport/local-businesses
More information
World Youth Day Community Information Line: 1300 360 933
Government services during World Youth Day: www.wydca.nsw.gov.au
Road closures: www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Public transport changes: www.131500.info
World Youth Day events: www.wyd2008.org
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