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Wikimania 2014 bids/Cape Town

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Table Mountain and Cape Town as seen from Table Bay.

Notice: Wikimedia South Africa has decided to withdraw our bid for 2014 in preparation for an even better bid in 2015. We thank everyone for their support so far and kindly ask that you support our planned bid in 2015.

Cape Town is a major cultural, design, and educational centre as well as tourist destination in Africa. It is the second-most populous city in South Africa[1] and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. The city is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Cape Town is also Africa's most popular tourist destination.[2].

Bid overview

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  • Two pre-conference (Hackathon) days in Johannesburg followed by three conference days including one conference day in July or August 2014.
  • Proposed venue: The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
  • 24 hour high-bandwidth wifi brought in especially for the full duration of the conference.[a 1]
  • Numerous unconference tours and event possibilities.
  • We will endeavour to promote participation of local and regional educational, cultural, technology, and academic institutions and communities.[a 2]
  • Cape Town will be the International Design Capital of the year for 2014. Numerous design and culturally related activities will be held throughout 2014 that present some unique and exciting possible synergies for hosting Wikimania 2014 in Cape Town.


Overall todo list

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For more details on what still needs to be done, see Wikimania 2014 bids/Cape Town todo list.

Our vision

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The envisioned theme for our bid for Wikimania 2014 can be summarized as one of bridging divides. In many ways the diverse (ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse) yet divided communities that make up Cape Town provide a microcosm of the divides that the Wikimedia community is striving to overcome on an international level in an effort to make the 'sum total of human knowledge accessible to everyone everywhere for free' one step closer to becoming a possibility. The will and desire to bridge these divides, both in Cape Town (and South Africa at large) as well as within the Wiki-community is there; bridging and expanding on this willingness this our core proposed vision.

This vision can be divide into three key objectives:

  • Bridging the divide between the Northern Hemisphere where the event has always been held (Cape Town would be the first time Wikimania has been held in the Southern Hemisphere).
  • Bridging the divide between the developed Global North (where Wiki projects most notably Wikipedia are best established and represented) with the less developed Global South (Africa in particular).
  • Bridging the divide between the haves (who have both material wealth and knowledge) with the have nots (who have neither material wealth nor adequate access to knowledge).

Location

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Cape Town International Convention Centre

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Layout of the International Convention Centre.
  • Conveniently located in the city centre, with immediate access to the national highways.
  • 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.
  • 6000 all-star rating hotel rooms within walking distance.
  • Added value in-house hotel services.
  • Main auditorium can seat over 1,600 people
  • Capable of hosting very large events (over 12,000 attendees)
  • Dynamic and adjustable conference, meeting and breakaway room space.


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Language

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  • While French and German are becoming increasingly common with immigration from Europe as well as West and Central Africa, the business language of Cape Town and the Western Cape is English.

A centre for knowledge

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  • Cape Town and the Western Cape is an intellectual magnet, with four world-class universities and other research institutions in fields as diverse as astronomy, science, medicine and social politics.
  • It is also the legislative capital of South Africa.
  • The destination is fertile ground for intellectual dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

Professional conference support

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  • Professional infrastructure for congresses includes an established Convention Bureau to deliver quality services for among others bid production. (refer to pg 11)
  • Logistical support for meeting planners, travel agents and corporations.
  • Access to trained professionals and sufficient pool of service suppliers.

An excellent business tourism infrastructure

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  • There are a host of world-class multi-purpose venues to choose from, including the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), an impressive, architecturally striking city landmark.
  • The destination also has an excellent support system for hosting any event, from the largest convention to innovative themed events.

International connectivity

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  • South Africa is an overnight flight from any European destination.
  • Cape Town International Airport is served by more than 20 international airlines on a weekly basis, linking the destination to global hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore and London.
  • In order to keep travel costs low, we advise you to investigate a flight via OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as well. It is Africa's busiest airport, and one of the few airports in the world with direct flights to all six inhabited continents. It is very well connected with Cape Town via domestic airlines. We are also investigating arranging a "Wiki Train" to transport people from Joburg to Cape Town, and back.

Easy access

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  • The airport is situated 20 minutes from the city centre.
  • On arrival, access to ground transport is simple and convenient, with taxis and coaches the most obvious options.
  • Conveniently connect to the City Centre via the MyCiti Bus at only R53.00 per person.

Value for money

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  • The destination is recognised internationally as one of the most affordable business tourism and incentive travel destinations in the world.

Room for everyone

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  • Cape Town and Western Cape has an extensive selection of first-class hotels that promise guests pleasurable experiences; from 5-star hotels to excellent bed and breakfast establishments.
  • Cape Town is know for its extensive collection of cheap hostels.
  • In total, the region boasts more than 20 000 rooms.

Climate

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  • A moderate Mediterranean climate.

Diversity

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  • Cape Town and the Western Cape is a cosmopolitan destination, where cultural diversity is welcomed.
  • Immigration from Europe and Africa has lent the city in particular an exciting vibrancy, adding to its creativity.
  • A wealth of artistic and musical talent, opera, ballet, drama and comedy are always on offer.

First class wining and dining

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  • The region is one of the wine capitals of the world, and the renowned Cape Winelands is both within the city and on its doorstep.
  • The destination’s many restaurants serve traditional or contemporary Cape and international cuisine.

The sheer beauty of it all

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  • The region offers unparalleled natural wonders, from the magnificent Table Mountain to pristine beaches, the big skies of mountains and semi-deserts and the most diverse of the world’s six botanical kingdoms.
  • Cape Town is the jewel of African tourism.
  • Robben Island, a World Heritage Site, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
  • Cape Floral Kingdom, another World Heritage Site, 4500 plant species at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
  • Fly-fishing, kite-flying and mountain-biking in and around the Peninsula.
  • The idyllic beaches of Camps Bay, Llandudno, Clifton, Fish Hoek, Muizenburg, Strand and Gordon’s Bay.


Supporters

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Use {{User Wikimania Cape Town 2014}} to promote our bid.

  1. Discott (talk) 15:57, 20 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Am probably going to kick myself later, but am in -- Thuvack (talk) 18:30, 20 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Mohau Talk 03:17, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Abbasjnr (talk) 08:30, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Auke Slotegraaf (talk) 08:52, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  6. BlessingC (talk)
  7. Tobiasschonwetter (talk) 10:20, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  8. Oarabile Mudongo (talk) 13:50, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  9. Support, but since the only continents that have not yet hosted Wikimania are Australia and Antartica, I might have move my support if Australia submits a bid. --NJR ZA (talk) 17:46, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  10. I'm on the WMAU board, and while there hasn't been anything official decided, general community consensus is that it is extremely unlikely that Wikimania would be in the Asia Pacific region two years in a row - so Australia has no plans to submit a bid for 2014. -- Chuq (talk) 04:50, 22 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  11. I have the same thoughts as Thuvack, but this project has my support MADe (talk) 09:25, 26 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
  12. My strong and full support! - Prof Jean-Paul Van Belle, University of Cape Town 13:59, 5 December 2012.

Self-evaluation

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See also: Wikimania 2014 judging criteria

Strengths

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  1. Cape Town is a well established and internationally sought after conference venue and was awarded the world's best tourism destination in 2011 by TripAdvisor.[3]
  2. Organisational support
  3. Convenience: convenient central location of the Cape Town International Convention Centre as a venue along with their ability easily host an event of this size (or larger).
  4. Safety: Cape Town city bowl is as safe as almost any large city in the United States or Europe, with very effective local government and policing.
  5. Infrastructure: The Western Cape is particularly geared towards international tourists and visitors. The City bowl has outstanding networking, accommodation and conferencing facilities.
  6. Natural beauty: The region is famous for its natural attractions.
  7. Venue: The Cape Town International Convention Centre is a large world class venue with extensive experience in hosting large events on the scale of Wikimania and have assured us that they will be easy able to cater the events requirements.

Weaknesses

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  1. Travel: travel to South Africa will be expensive for most Wikipedians.
    • To quote last year's bid: "This is unavoidable if we don't want to make every Wikimania a US or EU affair. Solution? Not sure?"


  1. ↑ "Community Survey, 2007: Basic Results Municipalities" (PDF). Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 23 March 2008. 
  2. ↑ "Why Cape Town is one of the Best Tourist and Expat Destinations". 
  3. ↑ TripAdvisor users vote Cape Town tops, retrieved on 1 December 2012

Notes

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  1. ↑ The CTICC has organised numerous tech conferences that have required around the clock very high-bandwidth wifi, such as the Microsoft developers conference, for which the bring third party specialists. They assure us that providing fast reliable wifi internet access will be no problem.
  2. ↑ Representatives from some of the universities in Cape Towns have already displayed interested in the event. Additionally Cape Town has one of Africa's largest tech communities.
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