The World Youth Day for 2008 will be held at the Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, after both the State and Federal Government agreed to share the compensation cost, evenly among them, offered to the users of the Racecourse.
The Youth Day is described by its organisers as the largest single event in Australian history given that around 500,000 people will attend the Final Mass, with a quarter of them coming from overseas. Furthermore, the organisers for this event were grateful for the government intervention.
"The Federal and State Governments have been generous …. We are grateful to them for finalising arrangements and confirming access for World Youth Day," stated the World Youth Day 08 press release.
There had been a continuing dispute between the owners and users of the Racecourse against the organisers of the Catholic event due to the disruption it would have on Racecourse itself, such as the temporary construction of portable buildings.
The contribution given by taxpayers to this event has been estimated by the Australian newspaper at around $100 million, including the compensation package value at $40 million which was given to the racing industry.
John Watkins, the NSW Deputy Premier, defended the State Government intervention saying the Youth Day could inject a potential $150 million to the State's economy, though he conceded the final cost cannot be estimated.