 In a first for World Youth Day – and for Sydney - Pope Benedict will
send daily text messages to pilgrims, volunteers, clergy and media during the
week of WYD2008 with the messages carrying words of inspiration and
encouragement for the pilgrimage.
The service will be made possible by Telstra,
announced earlier this week as the official telecommunications partner of World
Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).
“We wanted to make WYD08 a unique experience by
using new ways to connect with today’s tech-savvy youth,” explained
WYD08 Coordinator, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP. “Our partnership with
Telstra will help us do that.”
Telstra
will provide voice, data, mobile, broadband and broadcast services to WYD08,
connecting 8000 volunteers, 2000 clergy, 3000 media and an anticipated 225,000
pilgrims to more than 700 locations around the greater Sydney area.
“Telstra’s involvement will ensure that
WYD08 will be the most innovative World Youth Day to date,” Bishop Fisher
said.
One-of-a-kind Telstra services planned for WYD08
include:
- Daily inspirational text messages from Pope
Benedict XVI
- Digital Prayer Walls at event sites
- Hosting the official WYD08 online social
networking site, XT3.com
- Telstra precincts - on the ground interactive
centre’s including wireless internet, green screen studios,
commemorative WYD08 photo messaging and music downloads.
- Next G™ Regional Catechesis webcasting
The
Managing Director of the Telstra Group, Michael Rocca, said Telstra was the
only provider in Australia
with the established size, scale and innovation to deliver these services for
the largest youth event on the planet.
“Just as we did for the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games, 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Telstra
will bring participants closer to the event through new media and
telecommunications services, allowing youth to interact with WYD08 events,”
he said.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this major
global event and we are happy to be providing world class telecommunications to
WYD08 participants and organisers,” he said.
For info on how to REGISTER for World Youth Day, click
here .
For info on how to PREPARE for World Youth Day click here.
For info on WYD visit www.wyd2008.org
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