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Annual Tournament
Dear Forensics Educator: Greetings from IFA! This year, we will host the 20th Annual IFA Tournament in Berlin, Germany from March 13 – 20, 2010! We are pleased to continue the tradition of meeting outside of the United States to provide wonderful opportunities for students, coaches and friends of the IFA to experience diverse cultures, view exceptional architectural and artistic wonders, and to sample culinary delights. Here are some thoughts regarding Berlin: Berlin: immense, important, beautiful. The city has undergone enormous changes in the past 100 years. From the WWII bullet holes that still pepper the faces of everyday buildings and the remains of the Berlin Wall, to the luminous Brandenburg Gate, history is everywhere in Berlin. At the same time it is also a thriving, modern and exciting city, welcoming both tourist and business visitors. Since World War II, the city has emerged from the past and undergone the biggest construction project in Europe. Much of Berlin has been rebuilt, restored or rejuvenated and there is some wonderful architecture, both old and new, side by side. There is so much to see and do. Berlin's cultural offerings are amazing: three opera houses, over 150 theatres and playhouses, over 170 museums and collections and over 200 private galleries. In addition, the capital is host to numerous top acts, artists and bands - every day nearly 1,500 events are on Berlin's cultural calendar. This year, we have booked a block of rooms at a wonderful hotel that is centrally located; can accommodate our group with adequate meeting spaces; and offers fine amenities. For the past two years, all participants have arranged for their own travel. With the advent of the internet, there are no incentives offered by airlines. We do request that all participants book their hotel space with our travel agent to avoid paying additional fees, to help cover the costs for meeting spaces, and to insure that your room tax and breakfast are included with your rate. Every school is responsible for a competition room in the hotel at the rate of 1 room per 10 entries. We expect that Berlin will be one of our largest tournaments in years! We hope that you are able to join us for what we know will be a wonderful experience for all. Details for the hotel and our travel agent are included on the back of this letter. Hope to see you all in Berlin! Barbara S. Baron |