On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:47, Thomas Goldammer thogol@googlemail.comwrote:
It could be possible that a Wikimedia chapter is chosen to organize a Wikimania, and they can then decide where to go (within their country). Of course, the local chapter is always involved in organizing it, anyway. So instead of a city bid one would have a responsible chapter bid. This of course means that the global community gives a huge amount of trust to that chapter that they look for a place with sufficient infrastructure, public transit/air connection and whatever is necessary... So, the jury would then only choose the chapter (and thus the country), instead of a city.
What is absolutely not possible is just to say "city X will host Wikimania 20xx. Now all go and organize." So there needs to be some system of bids, I think.
I disagree. At some point, the jury has to compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of each potential site. That comparison is difficult enough between specific cities; it's downright impossible to compare all possible venues in multiple different countries.