World Youth Day participants will have the opportunity for an iconic Sydney experience in July when the Harbour Bridge becomes part of an historic pilgrimage, World Youth Day Government Spokesperson and Minister for Aging and Disability Services Kristina Keneally said today.
“It’s fantastic we can offer our visitors this once in a lifetime chance to walk across an icon many of them will only have seen on television,” she said.
“The bridge is quintessentially Sydney so it makes sense that we use it as a centrepiece of our celebrations for the visitors.”
About 180,000 people will walk from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, through Darling Harbour and then onto Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, 19 July.
“Sydneysiders will remember from the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Harbour Bridge what a spectacular sight and experience this is,” she said.
“For Sydney, this will be broadcast to the world so it is publicity that money simply can’t buy. It will bring a message to the world that we welcome our international visitors with open arms.
“For our $23 billion a year tourism industry these sorts of images are priceless, and for our visitors the experience will be unforgettable.”
Minister for Roads Eric Roozendaal said the Harbour Bridge will be closed for about 12 hours from 4.30am with the first walkers starting at 5.30am and the last at 2pm.
“World Youth Day will be second only to the Olympics in its scale and complexity as a traffic management event,” he said.
“Our priority in preparing for World Youth Day is to ensure people are aware of the impact this event will have on traffic, especially around the CBD and Eastern Suburbs.
“We know that any closure of the bridge causes significant traffic disruption, this is the 24th time we’ve closed the bridge and we are well placed to handle whatever World Youth Day throws at us.
“The RTA will make sure everyone will be kept informed with extensive information about road closures and Special Event Clearways.”
The 9km pilgrimage is part of a six day program of events that will culminate in a Final Mass delivered by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, 20 July at Randwick Racecourse.
World Youth Day 2008 is a week long event which will be held in Sydney from Monday 14 July to Sunday 20.
As event organisers, the Catholic Church says that it expects 125,000 overseas visitors, with another 100,000 registered from Australia. A 3000 strong contingent of media is also anticipated. According to the Sydney Camber of Commerce, the event will generate up to $231 million in economic benefits.
The event organisers expect more than 500,000 people to attend the major event of the week – the Papal Mass at Randwick Racecourse on Sunday, 20 July.
“The message to Sydneysiders for World Youth Day week is, leave the car at home, and use public transport if you can and if you are travelling into the city, please allow for delays,” Mr Roozendaal said.
There will be changes to the road network to not only help motorists navigate their way around the events but to also cater for the large crowds expected.
Ms Keneally said that there will be a detailed public information campaign for businesses and residents along the route about parking and access arrangements.
“Sydneysiders should be proud that their city was chosen for the largest event this yearoutside the Olympics. We love to show off our city and what better way to do it than like this,” she said.