Alexandria, Egypt
Proposal for OOoCon
Section 1 – Mandatory Information
Proposed Date(s)
June is recommended were it is the summer time, for reservations please check this link.
Location (country, city)
Egypt, Alexandria.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is located on a superb site on the historic eastern harbor of Alexandria, almost exactly where the old library and the royal palace of the Ptolemies once stood, the complex comprises three main elements: the pre-existing conference center, the planetarium and the new building.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a center of excellence that has be hosted several international events in different fields and Wikimania 2009 was one of the latest related events inside its well equipped Conference Center.
Special visa or entry requirements (e.g. vaccinations)
Most visitors are not required to have a visa prior to coming to Egypt, as it can be obtained at the country's ports of entry. The citizens of the following countries are required to be in possession of a pre-arrival visa:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Georgia, Hong Kong(BN(O) only), India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri-Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Tunisia.
However, for the best information concerning visas, we recommend you to contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country. Check the list of Egyptian embassies in various countries. A Visa would normally cost between $15 and $90 USD, depending on the applicant's nationality (about $20 for US citizen). Those in possession of a residence permit in Egypt are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less. For Full Information: The Egyptian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Conference venue(s) (e.g. university campus, municipal buildings)
Bibleotheca Alexandina, Alexandria, Egypt.
Conference facilities (e.g. WiFi, video streaming/recording)
Conference Center
- Office Equipment:
-
- Photocopiers are available at the Registration Desk for the use of conference participants.
- Fax machines and card-operated telephones are available for a fee to attendees.
- The Center offers PCs, printers as well as Internet access in its Internet café located on the first floor.
- An ATM is available in the Plaza next to the Conference Center building.
- Technicians: Conference Center technicians assist in any required technical services.
- Access to Handicapped Visitors : The Middle Hall is accessible to wheelchairs. Individuals in wheelchairs have access to the elevators to the different levels.
- Registration Desk: There are two Registration Desks. One is available in the lobby on the first floor, leading to the Main Hall and the second is in the lobby in B1, facing the East, West and Middle Halls. These lobbies are also used for coffee breaks. During meetings, qualified staff are present to assist and provide attendees with conference material such as programs, agenda items, name tags and registration forms, as well as any other information required.
The Small Theater
- Features: The Small Theater accommodates 242 guests. This hall is also in a theater-style setting with armchairs with folding tables. It is fully air-conditioned, fully equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual devices providing services such as video conferencing, a sound system and audio-visual material . It can host smaller conferences, seminars,theatrical plays and chamber music.
- Area: 350 m2, 242 guests.
- Video: Video Projectors, Slide Projectors, Visualizer, Digital Video Cameras, VHS/SVHS video recorder, CD/ DVD Player, Video conference.
- Sound Equipment: CD player, DAT player, double deck, loud speakers, equalizers, mixer console, etc. Microphone mixers. Wired & wireless-microphones. Audio Tape recorder. Lighting System (Mixers).
- Simultaneous interpretation system for up to four languages and built-in interpretation translation booths.
- Presentation Equipment: flipcharts, white board, laser-pointer, data show equipment , etc.
The Delegates Hall
- Features: The capacity of accommodating 106 seats and tables; Each table equipped with Power plug, Data show cable, Sound cable, voting system, internet connection and simultaneous interpretation head phone, flag, mic. It is fully air-conditioned, It can host delegates conferences. it has VIP Lounge provided with 2 plasma screen.
- Voting System.
- One plasma Screen on each side.
- Internet connection.
- Plus the same equipment on the small theater.
Lectures Hall
- Features: The Lectures Hall is in a theater-style setting with armchairs with folding tables. It has the capacity of accommodating 270 persons. It is fully air-conditioned and is suitable for international conferences, symposia, Lectures, seminars and presentations.
- Same equipment on the small theater.
The Auditorium
- Features:It is on the left in the Hall of Fame, the main lobby of the Library building. It accommodates 99 guests. The Auditorium has an elevated stage with a large screen for ilm presentation. It is fully air-conditioned and is suitable for Small conferences, symposia, meetings, seminars and presentations.
- Same equipment on the small theater
Multipurpose Hall
- Located in the second floor in the BACC building .It has a different setting, such as workshop, U shape, round table, Banquet and class room. The capacity of accommodating 200 persons as a class room. It is fully air-conditioned and is suitable for international conferences, symposia, meetings, seminars and presentations.
- Same equipment on the small theater.
Accommodation (especially any low cost hostels etc)
near by the bibliotheca, there are number of low-cost hotels such as (Ramsis) 3 stars hotel 20 mins walking distance away of the BA costs 120 EGP for double room. very nice people and trusted as well and we have deals with them many times before.
External transport links (nearest airport(s))
Nozha Airport
This airport doesnt accommodate all the airlines only ( Kuwait airlines, Lufthansa, Egyptair, Olympic , Aljazeera, El-arabia, Royal Jordanian) this airport is 30 mins away of the BA taxi can cost from 10 to 15 EGP.
Borg Al arab airport
This airport is 1:30 hrs away of the BA and very far and airport taxi will cost around 100 EGP otherwise they can take a mini bus for 4 to 6 EGP drop in Raml station and from there a taxi for 3 to 4 pounds with luggages can be taken.
Plus Cairo International Airport (3 hours away from Alexandria).
Internal transport links (within city)
Taxies are most familier and cheap relativly we have our organizing team but we are looking to recruit some Alexandrians for on-sites and logistics.
Team Lead (main contact person)
Motaz M. Elewa
Team Members
All members should be willing and able to commit at least 3 hours per day to planning the conference during the last two weeks before OOoCon
group of Ofok NGO affiliated members with the partnership of specialized and experienced volunteers.
- Moataz Sharaawy, Ofok NGO Secretary General
- Abdallah Hendawy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- Muhammad Rawash, programs developer
- Ahmed Said, programs developer
Local events that are taking place in parallel (or immediately before/after)
CT4ALL Project: ICT4All is an innovative project that is budding from Ofok Human Development Initiative (OHDI) that is intended to contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). Bringing IT literacy to as many people as possible; through offering basic IT courses supported by global IT pillars such as Cisco Systems and Sun Microsystems in the form of completely free scholarships targeting universities undergraduates where students will be taught by an instructor, gain access to the on-line curriculum and Educational Guide for free. Additionally, there will be a discount for Certifying International Exams.
ICT4All project is looking forward to serve 100.000 students, delivering IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software through the Cisco Networking Academy Program and Open Solaris Operating System 10 Essentials through the Sun Academic Initiative. All certificates will be internationally recognized and issued directly from Cisco and Sun.
Section 2 – Proposal
In 400 words or less, answer this question:
Why should the Community award OOoCon 2009/2010 to your team?
Egypt is a leading country on the field of ICT ON the MENA Region where active communities and organizations from users and developers are formed; working toward improving the ICT culture, specially open source technologies; several youth groups are acting to spread the usage of Open Source Softwares. Hosting OOoCon 2009 and 2010 in Egypt will be a great boost for these efforts and will encourage the usage and the development of the Open Source technologies and OpenOffice.org specially.
Our team is a group of experienced members who have a great believe on the Open Source technology and they are eager to contribute on organizing such an event, which will find hospitality from Egyptian participants, organizers and sponsors.
Choosing Alexandria and Bibliotheca Alexandrina specifically to grantee giving this event its real value and to present the essence of the Egyptian culture and heritage on touristic trips and sites which will make OooCon 2009 and 2010 a unique experience for all participants.
