tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244292116722597763.post281540399744948864..comments2008-06-19T06:09:42.270-06:00Sherry Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17428918256547725187noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244292116722597763.post-66567011738383675942008-06-19T06:09:00.000-06:002008-06-19T06:09:00.000-06:00The numbers according to the website are:<BR/><BR/>125,000 from overseas.<BR/>100,000 from the rest of Australia (outside of NSW)<BR/>The rest from around Sydney (300,000?) Probably a lot of extras who won't register until the very end, or not at all - as Generation Y like to keep their options open! I think when they see so many from around the world it will create a real buzz. I lived in Sydney before, during and after the Olympics in 2000. It was all doom and gloom before, but the week before the city went berserk with everyone desperate for tickets to events. The city had a real buzz for the 2 weeks. The Olympics attracted a lot less overseas visitors than WYD is on track to have. So my bet the buzz will be big.<BR/>I've read that 50,000 special WYD visas have been granted (the governments at commonwealth and state levels have been great - not so good with Sydney City Council). But these will be taken up by those who mainly come from countries with onerous conditions for obtaining Australian visas. For most of the Western world the easiest is obtaining an ETA which gives travel permission very quickly online. It makes sense that the vast bulk of travellers would be from wealthier nations.<BR/>Some countries, like PNG, have had a meltdown in trying to issue passports to young people. This has been a problem for our Dominican group from the University of PNG in Port Moresby. It looks as though some won't be able to come because of the bureaucratic nightmare. (I hope they find some key people with the gift of Administration pronto!).<BR/>I hope this helps.Fr. Anthonynoreply@blogger.com