Buenos Aires chosen to host Wikimania 2009

De Wikimedia Argentina

Buenos Aires, March 28th, 2008.

Wikimedia Foundation, which manages the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and others global collaborative projects, announced today the election of Buenos Aires as the host of Wikimania 2009, the annual conference of Wikimedia projects. The event lasts for five days, is visited by an important number of Wikimedia projects' users from all over the world, besides well-known activists, bloggers and specialists in wiki technology, free software, free culture and Internet social organizations, receiving an important international press coverage during its course.

Previous editions have taken place in Frankfurt (Germany), Boston (in the famous Harvard Law School) (US) and Taipei (Taiwan), while this year it will be hosted at the new Library of Alexandria, in Egypt. Buenos Aires bid was introduced and developed by the civil association Wikimedia Argentina, being chosen within a contest in which the other finalist cities were Toronto (Canada), Brisbane (Australia) and Karlsruhe (Germany). Wikimedia Argentina is Wikimedia's "Argentine chapter", and is formed by volunteers who work on projects related to free knowledge.

The event will be carried out in August 2009 in the facilities of the Centro Cultural General San Martín, and is supported by the Buenos Aires City Tourism Entity, sponsored by leading national and international companies, and backed by prestigious educational institutions such as the Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Along the meetings there will be workshops on Wikimedia projects for people in general, as well as other activities. Buenos Aires waits with open arms what will be the first Wikimania bilingual edition, both in English and Spanish.

When the jury selected Buenos Aires, it highlighted the importance of the Spanish language in the Wikimedia projects, as well as the culture significance of the venue. It also influenced the decision the Argentine community's high level of organization and activities.  This choice is very important for the huge community of Wikipedists in Spanish language, considering that this will be the first bilingual edition, and the first one that will be followed throughout Latin America, what easies the access for communities involved in Wiki projects from all over the region. 

About Wikimedia Argentina

Wikimedia Argentina is an non-profit organization whose goals are promoting free culture and free knowledge, specially by supporting and spreading projects hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, and their content. Wikimedia Argentina is a Wikimedia Foundation "local chapter" since December 2007.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organism in charge of Wikipedia's web sites and others Wikimedia projects.


For more information please contact

Patricio Lorente
President - Wikimedia Argentina
correo@wikimedia.org.ar