Seventh annual Wikimedia conference concluded in Haifa, Israel
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Wikimedians from across the world congregated in Haifa, Israel, last week for three days of intensive discussion of Wikimedia projects as part of Wikimania 2011, an annual gathering that has taken place every year since 2005 when it was first organized in Frankfurt, Germany. This year saw over 650 participants attend the main conference, accompanied by the pre-event meetings for developers, a chapters meeting and a meeting of the Communications Committee. (See also this week's "News and notes" and "Technology report")
On Wednesday, participants were welcomed to the event with professionally produced badges, lanyards, conference programmes, goody bags, T-shirts and very necessary cold drinks. The first order of business was a welcome from the organisers, and a welcome from a representative of the Israeli parliament. Outside the venue, a "tent city" had been set up, where young Israelis protested the rising cost of housing (see 2011 Israeli housing protests, the Wikinews story and media from Commons).