Sydney set for blockbuster weekend as population swells by 1.4 million

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/oct/04/sydney-to-swell-long-weekend

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Sydney's population is set to swell by about 1.4 million this weekend as One Direction fans, football fanatics and sailors come to worship at the altar of their respective obsessions.

The city is hosting the International Fleet Review at the weekend alongside the NRL grand final on Sunday night and the boyband phenomenon One Direction at Allphones Arena twice on Sunday.

Prince Harry will be on board HMAS Leeuwin alongside the governor general, Quentin Bryce, for the review of the fleet, which will be watched by throngs of people lining the harbour to see the armada of international warships, tall ships and navy boats.

Sydney's lord mayor, Clover Moore, said she was expecting the respective fans to "blend well" in the city.

"Sydney has a great diversity anyway; I think it's going to be a very celebratory mood," she said.

The New South Wales premier, Barry O'Farrell, has used the blockbuster weekend to brag that Sydney is the best city in Australia, while Sydney Olympic Park officials are trying to warn people about the huge numbers expected in the area.

The events are predicted by the NSW government to pour $50m into the city's economy in just two days.

"Sydney is the place to be this weekend – once again confirming our city as the home of major events and Australia's only global city," O'Farrell said.

"The NSW government is delighted to support such a spectacular and diverse lineup of major events.<br /> <br />"We targeted major events and tourism as a way to rebuild the state's economy and weekends like this show we're getting results."

Sydney Olympic Park will be hosting One Direction, the NRL grand final and EB Games Expo all on Sunday and organisers are warning fans there will be 130,000 more people in the park than on the average weekend.

The state government has put on 4,000 extra bus services and 1,000 extra trains to cope with the demand on public transport and is encouraging people to allow themselves extra time, wherever they are going.

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