Press releases/Wikimania Hong Kong 2013 press conference announcement

Wikipedians from around the world gathering in Hong Kong for Wikimania 2013


 * Press conference on August 9th, 11 am

HONG KONG and SAN FRANCISCO -- August 5, 2013 -- Wikimania 2013 is coming to Hong Kong this week, August 9-11. Since 2005, Wikimania has been the premier annual international gathering of the Wikimedia community, with participation from experts, academics, and Wikimedia enthusiasts who are empowering people around the planet through free access to global knowledge.

Over a thousand Wikimedians from all over the world are expected to attend. The featured keynote session, “The State of the Wiki,” will be conducted by Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia.

The Wikimania opening plenary and press conference details are as follows:


 * Date:
 * 9 August, 2013 (Friday)


 * Time:
 * 9:00am -- Keynote session: Mr. Makoto Okamoto, saveMLAK, wiki-based relief aid for 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
 * 10:00am – Keynote session: Mr. Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
 * 11:00am – Press conference


 * Venue:
 * The Jockey Club Auditorium
 * Hong Kong Polytechnic University


 * Press conference speakers:
 * Mr. Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
 * Ms. Sue Gardner, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation
 * Mr. Makoto Okamoto: saveMLAK
 * Mr. Jeromy-Yu Chan, Coordinator-in-Chief, Wikimania 2013

The theme this year is “Future of Wikipedia and Wikimedia,” with more than 100 presentations out of 300 global submissions. Presentations are divided into five categories: Wikis in Asia; Cultural and Educational outreach; WikiCulture and Community; Analysis and Public Engagement; and Technology and Infrastructure. More information is available at www.wikimania.hk
 * Wikimania program:

Journalists interested in obtaining press credentials should register at http://ur1.ca/enqgu. You can obtain your pass at media registration at the Jockey Club Auditorium.
 * Press passes:


 * Press contacts:
 * Kris Cheng (Wikimedia Hong Kong)
 * Phone: (852) 9619 4786, Email: wikimania-PR@undefinedwikimedia.hk


 * Matthew Roth (Wikimedia Foundation)
 * Phone: +1 415.839.6885 ext. 6635, Email: mroth@undefinedwikimedia.org

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix, Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive more than 499 million unique visitors per month, making them the fifth-most popular web property world-wide (comScore, June 2013). Available in 285 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 25 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of roughly 80,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants.
 * About Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation: