KEY POINTS:
Sydney is bracing for an invasion of young Catholics that will bring parts of the city to a snarling halt, lock down others, send many of the nation's top racehorses into temporary exile and, one forecast predicts, help boost the sex trade.
Billed as one of the world's
biggest youth events and the magnet for Australia's largest-ever influx of foreign visitors, World Youth Day has been described by the New South Wales Government as "the Olympics and Apec combined".
And while downtown Sydney will not be dissected by the huge steel fences that sprang up during last year's Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, traffic will be disrupted by road closures and detours, the closing of the harbour bridge and a huge security clampdown.
At the centre of the week-long celebration beginning on July 15 will be the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, flying over Sydney in a helicopter, circling the venue in the "Popemobile", greeting disadvantaged youths and meeting other religious leaders.
His itinerary includes meetings with about 40 representatives of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and rival Christian faiths.
More than 200,000 registered delegates including 4000 from New Zealand will attend.
Beginning in 1986, World Youth Day has been held every two or three years in a bid to take the Catholic faith to new generations.
Sydney is the 10th event, following others in South America, Europe and North America.
The largest was in the Philippines capital of Manila in 1995, when an estimated four million people attended the closing Papal Mass. Others have attracted between 500,000 and two million.
At last count, 110,000 foreigners had registered for the Sydney event, with a further 100,000 Australians expected to attend. Organisers are predicting 500,000 will be at Randwick racecourse and Centennial Park for the closing Mass.
Hoping for a tourist bonanza, the New South Wales Government set up a special co-ordinating authority to deal with the vast web of traffic, transport, security and other issues involved.
Police sent observers to monitor the US Secret Services security arrangements for the Pope's recent visit to Washington and New York, and have been conducting counter-terrorism and emergency services exercises.
More than 4000 police will be on duty, including riot squads, explosive detection dogs, water police and dignitary protection units.
The State Government overrode objections by the City of Sydney Council to impose sweeping changes to major traffic routes, including 500 special-event clearways, 300 road closures, the closing of the harbour bridge on July 19, and the conversion of downtown George St into a vast pedestrian mall.
Darling Harbour's former wharf site - now named Barangaroo and being redeveloped in a A$2.5 billion, 19-year project - will be fenced and closed to the public during key events.
Special work there includes 25 catering outlets, 25 lighting towers, 1200 toilets, six large screens, VIP areas, translation booths and shops selling clothing and souvenirs which are also the target of a special campaign against expected fakes and black market goods.
So intense are the preparations that the State Government has urged inner-city workers to take the week off or work from home.
And taxpayers will be footing much of the bill. The State Government last week confirmed it has been forced to increase its original budget of A$86 million to almost A$130 million, with A$20 million more in federal funding.
Complaints have already been pouring in, with concerns ranging from the postponement of elective surgery at major hospitals during the event, to anger in the hotel industry because bookings have fallen well below expectations and forced down room rates.
People living near Randwick Racecourse are furious at traffic restrictions around their homes that in some cases will prevent them parking in their own driveways, others are protesting at plans to fell trees to clear a walkway through a park, and organisers, the City of Sydney and the State Government are squabbling over restoration of Hyde Park after the event.
But one industry is smiling: market researcher IBISWorld has predicted that although delegates may not use their services, the influx of other tourists, support staff and media will boost business for prostitutes and strip clubs.
