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Final WYD08 Statistics Released

We all know that WYD08 was a massive celebration, but just how massive, you might ask? Check out the official WYD08 stats below...

PILGRIMS & ATTENDANCE

70,000 international pilgrims took part in Days of the Diocese throughout Australia during the week before WYD08
4,000 of those were hosted in New Zealand
150,000 attended the Opening Mass at Barangaroo and CBD sites
In excess of 400,000 people attended the Final Mass at Southern Cross Precinct
500,000 people came out to welcome His Holiness on Thursday 17 July on the Boat-a-cade, Official Arrival at Barangaroo and Motorcade
223,000 people registered for pilgrim services during WYD08 (110,000 international pilgrims + 113,000 local pilgrims)
Over 170 nations were represented at World Youth Day Sydney 2008

AUDIENCE

WYD08 events were watched live by an estimated international TV audience of 500 million, with TV and internet audiences combined reaching 1 billion
XT3.com, the WYD08 official online social networking site, is expected to attract 225,000 pilgrims as a result of the event
The World Youth Day website received over 500,000 unique users from Saturday 12 July to Sunday 20th July with the biggest spike in hits occurring Thursday 17th July.
There were 2,000 accredited media for WYD08

ACTIVITIES

450 Youth Festival events took place during the week from Tuesday to Sunday in over 100 venues
30 large national gatherings took place during WYD08, including the NZ National gathering of 4000 - the biggest gathering of young Kiwi Catholics - EVER!
134 international pilgrims from 58 countries were part of the International Liturgy Group (ILG), as well as a representative from each Australian State and Territory. The ILG undertook the main duties of the liturgies including readings, offertory procession, altar servers, testimonials, flag bearers. Cameron Surrey, (DIOCESE OF HAMILTON) and Josie Leota (ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON) were the two NZ representatives. Cameron met the Pope on the Boat-a-cade. Josie was one of the two MC’s at the Evening Vigil for over 220,000 people, in the biggest MC role in Australasia ever.
24 people were confirmed by the Pope at the Final Mass including 14 young Australians and 10 international young people and a NZer was among those confirmed….
Other NZers to feature included Clare Dooley, one of 12 young people to have lunch with the pope on the Friday of WYD. After communion at Tuesday’s opening mass the Congregation of 150,000 people were treated to a reflection hymn sung by Students from Hato Petera College, Auckland.
In Terrey Hills, more than 350 cardinals and bishops from overseas enjoyed a lunch hosted by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.
An average of 2,500 pilgrims walked through the Vocations Expo every hour
Catechesis was delivered at 235 locations across Sydney in 29 different languages
The WYD08 Choir consisted of 300 members, the WYD08 Orchestra was an 80 piece orchestra
1,000 priests heard confession during the WYD08 week
Approx 100 of the 4000 NZ pilgrims were clergy, 100 religious sisters and brothers were part of the National Pilgrimage.

PILGRIM SERVICES

6,000 blankets were donated by Qantas to pilgrims from across Oceania
37 lucky Burmese pilgrims overcame VISA difficulties to finally make it to Sydney for WYD08
At the WYD Big Aussie BBQ, 220,000 slices of bread were consumed if laid end to end, it would cover the Sydney Harbour Bridge 21 times
100,000 pilgrims slept in 400 schools and parishes
Over 12,000 pilgrims stayed in Sydney Olympic Park throughout the week
40,000 were billeted as part of the WYD08 HomeStay program

VOLUNTEERS

8,000 WYD08 volunteers assisted during WYD08
His Holiness held a special event to specifically thank the volunteers at the Domain prior to his departure

CLERGY

There were 4,000 priests and deacons, 420 Bishops, 26 Cardinals and one Pope present at WYD08
500 special WYD08 chasubles for the Bishops and Cardinals were made
4,000 stoles were made for the priests
1.1 million communion hosts were made for the WYD08 Masses

FOOD

25 million food items were ordered for WYD08
3.6 million meals were distributed across approximately 400 venues during the week
215,000 meat pies, 360,000 lamingtons and 100,000 litres of Dairy Farmers Milk were consumed

SERVICES

400,000 people attended the Final Mass at Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park
235,000 faithful attended the night time Vigil at Randwick Racecourse.
Over 200,000 pilgrims camped at Randwick Racecourse overnight in anticipation of the Final Mass
232,000 candles were used during WYD08
100 actors took part in the Stations of the Cross performance
4000 toilets were in use at the Southern Cross Precinct

Written By: Connect
Date Posted: 24/07/2008
Number of Views: 415

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