Javier Sobrino, Director of Planning, emphasized WYD’s positive collaboration with Vatican and Spanish security officials in the effort to make sure the Pope can be as close as possible to young people.
Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, World Youth Day CFO, reiterated that pilgrims are the ones paying for WYD.
WYD Executive Director Yago de la Cierva explained that the dates were chosen as they were the least inconvenient for Madrilenians.
The three WYD representatives thanked the three administrations (Spanish Government, Madrid City Council, and the Community of Madrid) for their collaboration and availability over the past year and a half.
Madrid, August 10, 2011.- A week before World Youth Day (WYD) officially opens, Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, CFO of WYD, Yago de la Cierva, Executive Director of WYD, and Javier Sobrino, Director of Planning for the organization, held a press conference to provide figures for the upcoming event in Madrid.
Javier Sobrino, Planning Director, stressed «the possibility of promoting names like ‘Madrid’ and ‘Spain’ and showing the city’s warmth and hospitality, given the global impact that WYD will have. More than a million people will attend the events, something which has never happened in Spain. We’ll send the message that Spain can organize such events.» In this regard, he highlighted that «it’s up to each and every one of us to carry out this task; we want all the pilgrims to feel at home.»
Sobrino emphasized the organization’s intent to «make sure the Holy Father can be as close as possible to the youth.» He likewise thanked the Vatican and Spanish security for helping make this goal a reality.
He also explained how the organization is being carried out in all the areas that make up the Operating Committee of World Youth Day. «It is a colossal event and must be addressed as such. This Operating Committee is comprised of 16 operational areas that cover all the organizational needs.» Sobrino also recalled that the International Press Center will be located in the Hall of Exhibitions and Congresses (Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos) on Paseo de la Castellana.
Meanwhile, Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, Chief Financial Officer of World Youth Day, recalled that the budget of World Youth Day is around 50 million euros and that, «the pilgrims are the ones who cover the cost of WYD.» He also assured of the fact that WYD will leave at least 100 million euros in Spain, and thus, commented that, «WYD is a unique opportunity for the Spanish economy, at zero cost to taxpayers,» mentioning that «the government does not fund celebration of this event.»
The CFO said that WYD’s budget is based on three points: transparency, austerity, and solidarity. Transparency: WYD will be audited by an international firm and the use of public bidding system for awarding contracts. Austerity: «WYD has tried not to spend more than its income.» Solidarity: young people with fewer economic resources will be able to attend this great celebration of youth thanks to the Solidarity Fund. In this regard, Giménez Barriocanal stressed that «two million euros have been distributed for these young people.»
He also explained that the item of income is 50.5 million euros, of which 31.5 million are from the pilgrims who pay the WYD through their registration fee. The rest comes from various sponsors and individual private donations, via SMS, from the website muchasgracias.info, product sales, etc. As for the planned expenditure, Giménez Barriocanal stressed that most of it is due to the infrastructure and the costs incurred in the main events, such as the installation of numerous large screens, loudspeakers, etc. as a result of the massive influx of young people expected.
WYD Executive Director Yago de la Cierva, thanked the Spanish Government, the Madrid City Council, and the Community of Madrid for their availability. He also made reference to other groups that support World Youth Day, such as the WYD Grandparents Club, the media sources that will cover WYD during these days, the thousands of Madrid families who will host young people from around the world, making them feel more at home during their stay, and Benedict XVI: «The Pope knew that it was going to be hot and even so, he has decided to come, so we appreciate his availability.» De la Cierva apologized to anyone who will be working during these days, those have sacrificed their vacation time, or have had to change their plans: «We’ve tried to celebrate World Youth Day in Madrid choosing the week in which it is most deserted and when there is less traffic. We decided on these days, to disturb as little as possible.»
Finally, there was a presentation of the latest WYD promotional spot, “We are more” which features a song by the group “Jaula de Grillos”, written for WYD in Madrid. There are now over 450,000 young people registered for World Youth Day.
Contact Information:
WYD Madrid 11 Press Office
C/ Ribera del Sena 21-4 ª planta– 28042 Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 7210920– 680 28 01 79