Wikimania is an annual conference for users, developers and other people involved in the wiki projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. It is held yearly since 2005. The first conference was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 4-8, 2005. The second one was held in Boston, USA (on August 4-6, 2006), the third one was held in Taipei, Taiwan (on August 3-5, 2007), the fourth Wikimania was held in Alexandria, Egypt (on July 17-19, 2008) and Wikimania 2009 will be held in Buenos Aires.
Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Gdańsk, Montpellier and Oxford are among current unofficial Wikimania 2010 bids. Below is Wikinews' conversation with the Gdańsk bid promoter and initiator, Wojciech Pędzich.
 Wikipedians from Tricity are involved in the process of making an offer, which will give Poland a chance of organizing a world-wide conference of Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimania 2010. Among the competing cities are Washington, D.C., Rio de Janeiro, and Oxford. This year the conference was held in Alexandria, Egypt, where the famous Library of Alexandria is located. Does Gdańsk stand a chance among such known cities?
((WN))  The tagline of your proposal is Gdańsk - the city of freedom. Could you tell us, why do you promote yourself with this line?
((WN))  How many are involved into creating a proposal? Poland is relatively small country. Are you sure you will be able to guarantee the efficiency of conference, if your proposal wins?
((WN))  Were there, in Gdańsk, already some world-wide conferences? Did the city manage to organize them?
((WN))  Lately Poland tried to get a bid for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and Euro 2012. Both actions have brought a large government support. How is it this time?
((WN))  Poland is a part of the European Union. What about Wikimedians, who are inhabitants of countries requiring a visa?
((WN))  Information about Gdańsk application to host Wikimania started to appear in local media. What is local community reaction to this idea?
((WN))  As you said before some people are objecting, probably not knowing possible benefits. How will Gdańsk and it's inhabitants benefit?
((WN))  Many possible visitors are not able to cover the cost of travel to Wikimania. What about organizers sponsorship?
((WN))  Wikimania is not only lectures, but also a possibility for long night talks with participants from other countries. How does Gdańsk's night-life looks like?
((WN))  English is the language of Wikimania. Will the attendants be able to communicate with employees of restaurants, clubs, shops, etc.?
File:Wpedzich z synkiem.jpg
Wojciech Pędzich (b. 1979) - comes from Szczytno, graduate of English linguistics in 2001, inhabitant of Gdańsk since 2001. Except of husband and father's roles, an employee of the Purchase Department in a power hydraulics company. Involved in Wikimedia projects since December 2006, in the beginning as a translator of articles and guidelines for Polish Wikipedia, then the administrator of the project, a member of the first Arbitration Committee Board in Polish Wikipedia. Wikimedia projects' steward since December 2007, member of the Wikimedia Polska Association. One of the initiators of Gdańsk Wikimania 2010 bid proposal.
This is a complete or partial translation of the article "Wierzę w kolejny polski "zryw narodowy" - wywiad z Wojciechem Pędzichem, promotorem gdańskiej kandydatury do Wikimanii 2010", from the polski language Wikinews, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

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Wikinews interviews the Wikimania 2010 Poland bid promoter