Galaxy poll shows Sydney fell in love with World Youth Day
By Brooke Newstead and Kate Sikora
IT could have been the tambourines, the happy pilgrims or even the lamington-munching nuns.
Whatever it was – it’s now official. Sydney loved World Youth Day.
After grumbling before the event, most Sydneysiders changed their tune, thinking it great for Sydney.
A Galaxy poll found 71 per cent of respondents thought the mass of pilgrims in town for the week’s events was a “good thing”.
Pope Benedict XVI’s presence even caught the attention of non-Catholics.
More than 400,000 people went to the Pope’s last Mass at Randwick Racecourse, the largest religious gathering in Sydney. The poll which surveyed 500 Sydney residents yesterday and on Tuesday found while Catholics were more likely to think the celebration was good for the city, 61 per cent of non-Catholics rated the event.
Initially, residents and CBD workers were concerned the transport system would be unable to cope with the 215,000 extra pilgrims in the city. But more than three-quarters of Sydneysiders believe the event was well organised.
The poll also found 80 per cent of residents were glad thousands of young people enjoyed themselves without being a nuisance. Despite the constant images of joy, the poll has also shown that opinion is divided on whether the city should offer to host the event again, with 51 per cent of those surveyed saying Sydney should offer, 26 per cent saying no and 23 per cent uncommitted.
Since the Pope left on Monday, the city has returned to normal as the pilgrims go home. Pope Benedict announced the next World Youth Day would be held in Madrid, Spain, in 2011.
Edited:
Galaxy poll shows Sydney fell in love with World Youth Day
By Brooke Newstead and Kate Sikora
IT could have been the tambourines, the happy pilgrims or even the lamington-munching nuns or perhaps even the smelly pilgrims.
Whatever it was – it’s now official. Sydney loved World Youth Day.
After grumbling before the event, most Sydneysiders changed their tune, thinking it great for Sydney.
A Galaxy poll found 71 per cent of respondents thought the mass of pilgrims in town for the week’s events was a “bad thing”.
Pope Benedict XVI’s presence even caught the attention of non-Catholics.
Only little more than 150,000 people went to the Pope’s last Mass at Sydney’s own ANZ Stadium in Homebush, the largest religious gathering in Sydney. The poll which surveyed 500 Sydney residents yesterday and on Tuesday found while Catholics were more likely to think the celebration was good for the city, 61 per cent of non-Catholics rated the event.
Initially, residents and CBD workers were concerned the transport system would be unable to cope with the 150,000 extra pilgrims in the city. But more than three-quarters of Sydneysiders believe the event was well organised.
The poll also found 80 per cent of residents were glad thousands of young people enjoyed themselves without being a nuisance. Despite the constant images of joy, the poll has also shown that opinion is divided on whether the city should offer to host the event again, with 51 per cent of those surveyed saying Sydney should offer, 49 per cent saying no.
However some Sydney Citizens reported to the Daily Telegraph that the pilgrims were smelly. One citizen said: “I was in the train with my son, they weren’t very clean at all. While they looked to have fun, and have a great spirit, many of them clearly were not clean and it is still bad at the same time for us citizens.”
Since the Pope left on Wednesday, the city has returned to normal as the pilgrims go home. Pope Benedict announced the next World Youth Day would be held in Cologne, Germany in 2011.
