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World Youth Day 2008

Please find below information that we hope will assist your understanding of key issues with World Youth Day at Randwick Racecourse in July 2008.

 


What is World Youth Day?

World Youth Day is a week long religious celebration open to all but focused on the youth of the world.


Is this an AJC event?

No. The event is being organised and managed by the Catholic Church.


When is World Youth Day?

The event runs for one week from 14 July 2008 with events held throughout NSW. The events to be held at Randwick Racecourse are known as the Vigil, to be held on the afternoon of 19 July 2008 and the Final Mass to be held on the morning of 20 July 2008.


How many people are expected to attend?

We are advised by the World Youth Day organisation that approximately 320,000 pilgrims are expected to attend each events at Randwick.  An overflow of up to 250,000 is avaliable at Centennial Park.


Will any visitors stay at Randwick overnight?

The World Youth Day organisation have advised up to 200,000 pilgrims are expected to sleep out overnight on the racecourse between the two events (on the evening of Saturday, 19 July 2008).


Will horse training be affected?

Training of horses at the Randwick site will not be possible for a period of 10 weeks between  15 June 2008 and 23 August 2008 (inclusive). During this period Trainers and their horses will be relocated to alternative venues, principally Warwick Farm and Rosehill. A fund has been established, controlled by RNSW, to assist parties affected by this dislocation.


Will racing at Randwick be affected?

Due to the effects of EI, a new racing calendar was issued by RNSW for calendar 2008.  The revised calendar provides for Randwick race meetings between 15 June 2008 and 23 August 2008 to be transferred elsewhere. The last race meeting at Randwick ahead of World Youth Day is Saturday, 14 June 2008. Training recommences 24 August 2008, Barrier Trails on 29 August 2008 and Racing on Saturday, 6 September 2008.


Did the AJC have a choice in hosting the event?

The event organisers assessed 18 Sydney sites and determined Royal Randwick the most suitable to host the key WYD events.  The NSW State Government is an important business partner of the AJC. The AJC works cooperatively with the Government on matters of site tenure, licensing, racing and matters of general business. The Government also introduced legislation for the specific purpose of compulsorily acquiring the site for WYD. The AJC takes a pragmatic approach and is cooperating with the parites in relation to WYD.


Will Members fees be affected?

Part of the negotiation in regard to financial support reflects the fact that as a group, many of our Members do not visit Warwick Farm and hence during the transfer period will not take advantage of their membership by attending the “Farm”. It is envisaged that a credit will be made to all Members to reflect this inconvenience, however the details of this have not yet been finalised.


Shouldn't all details have been dealt with sooner?

Ideally yes, however this is not an AJC event and we do not control all information relating to the event and its impacts. We have been working as expeditiously as possible when event information is communicated to us to identify and mitigate risks and make alternative operating arrangements.


What benefits are there to the AJC in hosting WYD?

The hosting of key WYD events at Randwick will cause interruption as well as risks for the AJC's business. In recognition, the Goverment has provided compensation. In particular, the AJC will be compensated:

  • To build training facilities at Warwick Farm to accommodate horse relocation
  • To improve site access at Randwick

The AJC will also receive non financial benefits, including an extention to the lease of Randwick racecourse to 99 years.

On behalf of stakeholders, the AJC has also been able to obtain broader industry benefits, inlcuding a $10.8m fund to assist compensate Trainers and other industry participants adversely affected by WYD. This fund is administered by RNSW.


Will the event cost the AJC any money?

It is not intended that the event, after compensation, have a financial impact on the AJC.


Will tracks be damaged - jeopardising carnival?

Track damage is a risk. However, with careful planning and using techniques employed at other major venues around the world, the risk of damage to the tracks can be reduced. The event organisers will be covering all turf surfaces with a protective covering, some 220,000m2 in total. We are advised by the event organisers that the risk is significantly reduced through this protection