Wikimania 2008 Comes to a Close
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Alexandria—
The Fourth Annual Wikimedia Conference “Wikimania 2008” proceedings came to a close at the BA on Saturday, 17 July 2008, amidst high expectations from Wikimedia Foundation and its different projects to develop free knowledge on the internet.
Sue Gardener, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation, stated that the community of Wikimedians, including volunteers giving their time and effort to Wikimedia projects, has acquired strength over the past five years. She maintained that the Foundation headquartered in San Francisco, is now getting financial support from several parties, and has several ideas to further develop the Foundation’s projects in the near future. Gardener emphasized the importance of reaching out to Arabic speakers and added that the Conference helped introduce Wikimedia and its projects to the people of the Arab world.
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia, raised two important questions to be thought of: what are the challenges facing Wikimedia community? And what are the potentials for the growth of such community to include active partners from different parts of the world? He stated that Wikimanias are good opportunities for people from different cultural backgrounds to creatively think and cooperate with Wikimedians.
Florence Devouard, ex-Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, took the floor and recalled her memories on past Wikimanias. She also thanked all the Egyptian volunteers and BA staff members, who were strongly involved in the organization process. She expressed her hopes that the Arabic Wikipedia will flourish and urged Michael Snow to keep the “wiki-spirit” in all the coming Wikimanias.
Michael Snow, Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, praised the Conference held this year at the BA, and described the Library as a tremendous place swarming with excellent technical and human resources.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, thanked all members of “this marvelous Wikimania community, who are indeed the artisans of a global revolution, where access to knowledge is a fundamental right and sharing of knowledge a fundamental duty”. Serageldin said, “you are redefining the sense and meaning of the words: community, participation, creativity, liberty and freedom of expression… you are indeed changing the shape of wisdom”. Serageldin thanked Wikimania for underlining the challenges that lay before us, for energizing us, empowering us and inspiring us. He further expressed to them his appreciation for having come here to Egypt, and asked them to count us as members of the Wikimania community.
Dr. Noha Adly, Director of the BA Information and Communication Technology Department, stated that the BA was determined to make the Conference a success and to promote the message of Wikimedia within Egyptians and thanked the BA staff, who worked tirelessly from the bidding process until the Conference’s closing session.
At the closing of the Conference, Sue Gardner announced choosing Buenos Aires, Argentina to host Wikimania 2009. She stated that the Foundation has held its annual Conferences in different continents of the world, namely: Frankfurt in Europe; Boston in North America; Taipei in Asia; Alexandria in Africa; and Buenos Aires in Latin America, and remains Australia.
For the archived webcast of the closing ceremony, please click here