Australian govt. contributing 40 million to WYD08

From the Australian Nation (some quotes):

AUSTRALIAN taxpayers will spend $40million to host the world's biggest Christian pilgrimage, when the Pope and an estimated 500,000 young Catholics attend World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.

John Howard and NSW Premier Morris Iemma each pledged $20 million yesterday in funding for the festival, expected to draw more international tourists to Australia than the Olympic Games or Rugby World Cup.

...

"The NSW Government is prepared to pass any legislation that may be required to ensure the smooth running of the event," he told a planning conference at the Vatican yesterday. "We will permit no bureaucratic or legal obstacles to hinder effective preparations for this magnificent event."

One third of Sydneysiders were Catholic, he said, and nearly a quarter of Sydney children go to Catholic schools.

The Vatican is negotiating with Qantas to custom-fit one of its new Airbus-A380 aircraft for the Pope and his entourage of 30 staff and security guards, and 70 Vatican journalists.

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