SBS to cover World Youth Day

Program Publicity: Issue date Tuesday 1 July, 2008

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008

The 10th international World Youth Day in Sydney, the largest youth event in the world, will also mark the first visit to Australia of Pope Benedict XVI. This is the first Papal visit to Australia for 13 years.

With an influx of an estimated 125,000 international visitors; 8000 volunteers; 2000 clergy; and global media representation, the eyes of the world will be on Sydney during this significant time.

More than a happening for the world's Catholics, World Youth Day is open to young people from all faiths and aspires to engender a sense of belonging, and a desire to contribute in a positive way to creating a better world.

For Australians who are unable to make it to Sydney for the World Youth Day events, SBS Television will provide live coverage of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, the Opening Mass, the Papal Mass at Randwick and the Stations of the Cross.

There will also be a daily Highlights package covering the Journey of the Cross, Catechesis sessions, and the Pilgrim’s Walkabout. SBS Television’s coverage will give viewers who are unable to make the journey to Sydney the opportunity to participate, in spirit, in this momentous event.

Schedule of SBS Television’s coverage:

Tuesday 15 July
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Highlights: Journey of the Cross

3:00pm – 6:00pm
LIVE: Opening Mass of Welcome – celebrated by Cardinal George Pell, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, and Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko of the Vatican.

Wednesday 16 July
5:30pm – 6:00pm
Highlights: Opening Mass of Welcome

Thursday 17 July
2:00pm – 5:00pm
LIVE coverage of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI

5:00pm – 5:30pm
Highlights: Cathechesis session

5:30pm – 6:00pm
Pilgrim’s Walkabout – Part 1

Friday 18 July
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Highlights coverage of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI

3:00pm – 6:00pm
LIVE coverage of the Stations of the Cross beginning from the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral and ending at Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour.

Saturday 19 July
5:30pm – 6:00pm
Highlights: Stations of the Cross

Sunday 20 July
9:15am – 12:30pm
LIVE coverage of the Papal Mass from Randwick Racecourse

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Highlights of the Papal Vigil

7:30pm – 8:00pm
Highlights of the Papal Mass

Monday 21 July
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Highlights of the World Youth Day Celebrations

SBS Radio will also cover World Youth Day with LIVE event broadcasts in English and live crosses in language from Hyde Park, Barangaroo, and Randwick. SBS Radio’s flagship youth program, Alchemy will provide daily reports from the world’s visiting youth to get their take on World Youth Day in Sydney. Live outside broadcasts will also supplement the week of programming in a range of languages.

SBS’s online platform sbs.com.au/worldyouthday will have extensive coverage of the World Youth Day celebrations through news stories, video highlights, photo galleries and multimedia packages, including slideshows and a roster of high-profile bloggers, as part of a vital portal to encourage comment and discussion on the events.

http://www.sbs.com.au/worldyouthday will also stream the four main LIVE televised events, in addition to the Evening Vigil on Saturday 19 July at 6:00pm.

For further information on SBS Television & Online coverage please contact either:
Jo Parker SBS Communications Manager on (02) 9430 3796 / 0413 676 136 or Kathryn Hibbert Senior Communications Specialist on (02) 9430 3785.

For further information on SBS Radio’s coverage, please contact:
Sophia Spinelli Communications Manager for Radio on (03) 9949 2111