Organisers have spent the past five weeks dismantling structures and restoring the site to its pre-event state to enable racing and training to resume by the agreed dates.

WYD08 said it will continue to carry out remediation work in isolated parts of the site over the next few weeks and is confident of completing this work well ahead of schedule.

“The images of hundreds of thousands of people from around the world gathering in Randwick Racecourse to pray with Pope Benedict will become an enduring reminder of one of the most special events in Sydney’s history,” said Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.

“The racecourse was a wonderful venue – spacious, close to the city and easily accessible for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and Australians who took part. We are grateful to the NSW Government and the racing industry for making it available to World Youth Day.

“We know we have been good custodians; all construction work on the racecourse was carried out strictly in line with measures approved by the Project Steering Committee chaired by Hugh Martin and comprising representatives from the AJC, the NSW Government and WYD08.

“We are grateful for their guidance, leadership and advice.”

WYD08 has also dismantled all structures at its other main site – Barangaroo in east Darling Harbour.

“We expect to be able to hand back Barangaroo to the NSW Government by the end of this month,” Cardinal Pell said.

“Both sites provided spectacular settings for solemn, yet joyous liturgical events, watched by up to a billion people globally.

“Every Sydneysider – no matter what their faith - should be proud of the way in which the city hosted the youth of the world in July.”