As the symbols of the Catholic Church's World Youth Day youth event were paraded in his diocese, one Bishop likened the Cross and Icon to the Olympic torch. The comparison is interesting. The Bishop noted that both WYD and the Olympics had the power to connect people, and that their symbols represent the hope the world places in young people to promote a peaceful future.
In both international movements — one peaking in July, the other in August — mainly young people seek to advance ideals that should benefit everyone around the world. While some WYD objectives are relevant only to the Catholic Church, if the day succeeds in its aim to to 'build bridges of friendship and hope', then the cause of world peace should be advanced.
Both supporters and critics of WYD have compared its likely impact on Sydney with that of the 2000 Olympic Games. Unlike those inside the Church, who stress spiritual benefits, the general community is entitled to assess the potential economic impact.
While supporters argue that pilgrims are tourists who will inject large amounts of cash into industries such as accommodation and hospitality, critics suggest the costs are being socialised and borne by the state on behalf of the community. Critics have also pointed to the enormous costs involved in hosting the Pope, and the security crackdown, which many citizens will find inconvenient and some will regard as insulting.
The Olympic Games also involve huge security operations, and not just because of the presence of heads of state. All world media events provide great opportunities for political protest, whether peaceful or violent.
When the Olympic flame left the 2004 host country Greece to head towards Beijing, international news agencies revealed the presence of protestors, who used the torch event to draw attention to human rights issues in China and in particular to the lack of political freedom and autonomy in Tibet.
The images arising from those demonstrations suggest that the protestors were mainly young people and that they hailed from many countries. It would be interesting to know whether there is a common membership among WYD pilgrims and Olympic protestors. It should not surprise if people who are committed to international understanding are also committed to universal human rights.
While the 2000 Olympics is usually cited as the forerunner of WYD, last year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum provides a more challenging comparison. When Sydney hosted APEC