Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025/Bids/Thessaloniki, Greece

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Application

This application is submitted by Wikimedia Community User Group Greece for the Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Summary

Thessaloniki, the Capital of Macedonia

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the Central Macedonia region. The city has a population of approximately 800.000 residents, making it an important economic, cultural, and historical hub. It is also known for its vibrant life, cultural heritage, and strategic location at the crossroads of the Balkans and the Mediterranean.

History and Culture

Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC by Cassander of Macedonia and was named after the sister of Alexander the Great, Thessalonike. The city has a rich history that spans from antiquity to modern times, with influences from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Significant landmarks are in the city are UNESCO World Heritage Sites that include the Arch of Galerius, the White Tower, the Rotunda, and the Church of Saint Demetrius, the city's patron saint.

A City by the Sea

Thessaloniki is a seaside city built around the Thermaic Gulf. The city's waterfront is a popular destination for walks, cafes, and dining, offering stunning views of the sea and Mount Olympus in the background. The Port of Thessaloniki is one of the largest in the Balkans and serves as an important commercial and passenger hub.

Thessaloniki's Extensive Transportation Network

Thessaloniki boasts a 12-kilometer bike lane network and serves as a key railway hub, connecting Greece with Europe and Turkey via the New Railway Station. Major highways, including the A1, A2, and A25, along with the Peripheral Road, facilitate road travel.

The Macedonia Intercity Bus Station, located about six kilometers west of the city center, serves all international and domestic lines. The city has a comprehensive bus network managed by the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization (OASTH). OASTH has recently replaced half of its fleet with electric buses. The upcoming Thessaloniki Metro, completed on November 2024, will be the newest and most modern in Europe and will further enhance the city's transportation services.

Thessaloniki is also served by the International Airport Macedonia, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the city, connecting Thessaloniki with numerous European and international destinations. Additionally, Thessaloniki's port provides maritime connections to various islands and coastal areas, while its railway services offer routes to major cities within Greece. This extensive transportation infrastructure ensures Thessaloniki is well-connected and easily accessible for both European and international travelers.

Events

Thessaloniki is known for its vibrant cultural life and the various events it hosts, showcasing its capability to handle large-scale gatherings. The city is home to annual events such as the Thessaloniki International Fair, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Thessaloniki International Book Fair, the Dimitria Cultural Festival and several other major institutions. The city was one of the Olympic Cities during the 2004 Olympic Games, is also home to the Olympic Museum, and hosts the annual Alexander the Great International Marathon. It was the European Youth Capital in 2014 as well. Additionally, Thessaloniki is home to annual events such as the along with various significant music and cultural festivals including the EuroPride 2024. These events highlight the city's dynamic cultural scene and its role as a major event destination in the region.

Economy and Education

Thessaloniki is a major economic center in Northern Greece, with a strong presence in commerce, services, and industry. The city also hosts three of the largest universities in the country, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Macedonia, and the International Hellenic University, which attract thousands of students from across Greece and abroad.

With its long history, dynamic cultural life, and strategic location, Thessaloniki remains one of the most attractive and interesting cities in Greece and the Mediterranean.

Promoting Global Engagement

The local community in Thessaloniki is increasingly active in the global movement, striving to bring more international projects and events to Greece, which will inspire the local population. To involve the local community and familiarize the regional community with Greece, efforts are being made to attract international conferences and events to Thessaloniki. This strategy aims to boost local engagement, foster cultural exchange, and position Thessaloniki as a key player on the international stage.

Affiliate

Wikimedia Community User Group Greece (WMGR) is a group formed by members of the Greek Wikipedians community who are active participants in Greek Wikipedia and its sister projects, as well as in global Wikimedia projects like Commons, Meta-Wiki, Outreach, and Wikidata. Officially recognized in 2013, the group registered as an association (somatio) in 2019.

WMGR organizes edit-a-thons, workshops, and presentations at universities, schools, and cultural institutions to promote Wikimedia projects in Greece. They collaborate with libraries, museums, and educational organizations to enrich Wikimedia content related to Greek culture, history, and science.

Over the last decade, WMGR has held various events, attracting many people to the Wikimedia vision and principles. The group has over 20 members and collaborates with institutions such as universities, libraries, museums, and galleries to support and expand its activities. Since 2022, the WMGR has annually organized the Ionian Wikithon, a satellite event of the Wikimedia Hackathon. This event is held in collaboration with the Networks, Multimedia, and Systems Security Laboratory of the Department of Informatics of the Ionian University, attracting over 150 participants to date. The community now also has an employee who focuses on capacity building, helping to expand the community and activate its members.

Proposed event venue

For the Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025, we have two excellent venue options.

The primary choice is the Center for the Dissemination of Research Results (K.D.E.A) at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This venue features multiple amphitheaters and versatile common areas suitable for both special and parallel events, all equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment.
The secondary option consists of several renowned hotels in Thessaloniki. These hotels offer luxurious accommodations, excellent amenities, and stunning views of the Thermaic Gulf, providing an exceptional setting for hosting events and ensuring a comfortable stay for guests.

Proposed accommodation

Thessaloniki offers a diverse range of accommodation options, with a total capacity of approximately 30,000 beds across more than 200 establishments. These include luxury hotels, boutique hotels, traditional guesthouses, and budget accommodations, catering to every preference and budget.

Proposed dates

19 - 21 September 2025
26 - 28 September 2025
31 October & 1-2 November 2025

Expected total budget

Based on our detailed budgeting process, our community has determined that the total budget for our conference amounts to €160,130. This budget is designed to support 90 scholarship recipients and accommodate all necessary expenses for the event.

Additional details about our budget are available in this Google Sheet.

Description

The university and the hotel have various sizes of classrooms and conference rooms available for meetings, which are ready for use during the conference. All halls are equipped with the necessary technical equipment.

Like all previous conferences, Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025 will occur over 3 days.
In addition to the main program days, if there is demand from the community, we can organize learning days a day before the main conference days.
We will provide as many tracks during the program days as needed after receiving submissions and programming.

Logistics

WMGR will ensure full technical support with the necessary equipment required to organize a professional and successful conference. The equipment provided will include:

Sound system
Audiovisual equipment
Translation services
Live streaming
Design support

The amphitheaters and rooms at the Center for the Dissemination of Research Results (K.D.E.A) at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as the rooms in selected hotels in Thessaloniki, are fully equipped with all necessary technical equipment to ensure a smooth and professional execution of the conference.

Organising team

Marios Magioladitis (User:Magioladitis) - Head of the Organising Team, Program Committee (Together with CEE Hub) and WMF liaison
Konstantinos Staboulis (User:Geraki) - Logistics, travel arrangements and WMF liaison
Eleni Christopoulou (User:Eleni.Christopoulou) - Scholarships and social media output
Dimitrios Ringas (User:DimitriosRingas) - Scholarships and coordination of volunteers
Markellos Stevis (User:MARKELLOS) - Finance
Nikos Likomitros (User:NikosLikomitros) - General duties (to be clarified later)

We will also be assisted by volunteers from the Aristotelian University, the Ionian University and other youths of Thessaloniki.

Experience

The WMGR team and individual members of the organizing committee have extensive experience in organizing and hosting both international and local events. The team has successfully held Thesswiki, Wikimedia Hackathon 2023, Thesswiki – Divided Memories Editathon 2017, ThessHack Wikimedia Hackathon 2016, and WikiFemHack in Thessaloniki 2017. Additionally, the team has organized the Ionian Wikithon 2024, 2023, 2022.

Accessibility

Travel

Thessaloniki is an important transportation hub, mainly for air travel. Thessaloniki has one international airport, Macedonia Airport, which connects Greece with many countries around the world. It is strategically located, linking Europe with the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, making it a crucial connection point for various destinations.

Thessaloniki is also connected to European capitals by rail. Additionally, there are bus links with neighboring and European capitals.

Two major national airlines operate in Greece, one of which is Aegean Airlines. Aegean Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Greece. As of 2024, it operates scheduled flights to destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most significant airlines in the region. Aegean is a member of the Lufthansa Group.

The second airline is Sky Express. This is a Greek low-cost carrier that serves many destinations within Greece and abroad.

Additionally, several other airlines operate in Thessaloniki, such as Ryanair, which is one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe.

Visa

Greece has a flexible visa policy and offers foreign nationals various options for obtaining a visa. Currently, citizens of 62 countries can travel to Greece without a visa for tourism purposes, while citizens of other countries may obtain a Schengen visa either electronically or through the Greek embassy/consulate in their home country.

Visitors from most nationalities must hold a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry into the country. However, there are exceptions: citizens of EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), as well as citizens of Switzerland, can enter with a national ID card instead of a passport, provided the ID is valid for the entire duration of their stay or up to 5 years beyond the expiration date. Citizens of other non-EU countries, such as Albania, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Turkey, the Central Asian states and the United States, require a Schengen visa and must obtain approval before their trip.

Additionally, citizens of North Macedonia can enter Greece with an ID card or passport, while other countries are subject to the general Schengen visa rules. Citizens of Kosovo also can visit Greece with a passport, as since January 1, 2024 Kosovan citizens can visit Greece and the Schengen area in general without needing a visa.

The Serbian citizens who hold biometric passports can enter Greece without visa. However those who own passports owned by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Koordinaciona Uprava) need a visa. Also, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine, who hold biometric passports can visit Greece without a visa.

A list of countries and their visa requirements for traveling to Greece (based on participation in previous conferences). You can also check the list of the Greek Foreign Ministry for visa requirements to enter Greek territory.

Safety

Thessaloniki, as a popular tourist destination in northern Greece, is generally safe for its visitors. The city welcomes millions of tourists each year, and visitor safety is a major priority for local authorities.

Although Thessaloniki maintains low crime levels, it's always wise to stay vigilant. In bustling areas such as the Upper Town, the waterfront, and central markets, you might encounter minor thefts or pickpockets. Keeping an eye on your personal belongings and avoiding displaying valuable items publicly can help protect you from such issues.

Greek police provide a high level of protection for international visitors, and Thessaloniki's judicial authorities operate independently, ensuring justice and protection of rights for all citizens and visitors. Freedom of speech and personal safety are strongly upheld by the Greek Constitution and legislation.

Thessaloniki offers a rich cultural experience with landmarks, museums, and a vibrant nightlife, so keeping a careful watch over your personal items can ensure an enjoyable and safe visit.

Budget

Budget for WMCEE25 GR