500 days before the start, online registrations for the World Youth Day of Sidney (15-20 July 2008) open today. For the moment, thy can be made by groups only, while individual registrations will have to wait until mid-year. "The majority of pilgrims will come to the WYD with diocesan groups and movements states mgr. Anthony Fisher, the bishop who coordinates the Sidney 2008 Committee . We open online registrations for groups ahead of time, to collect information on the numbers of pilgrims we have to expect, the language groups and the special needs. So we will be able to plan everything ahead of time and organise the distribution of the accommodation and places of catechesis in and around Sydney". Group registrations can be made on the website www.wyd2008.org. At the same time, the Committee published a few measures for pilgrims, including "a tax-free three-month visa and an invitation DVD". According to the deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Mark Vaile, the three-month visa will "enable the young to stay longer and explore Australia". "Hopefully, the young will not only be attracted by the beautiful sights, but also by the testimonies of the young Australians that explain, in the DVD, the impact that the past WYDs had on them", comments card. George Pell, archbishop of Sidney.
