This in from Edi Birsan:

The October 2008 update on

The WDC next year is at Origins in Columbus Ohio

June 24-28

http://www.originsg amefair.com/

Things are moving along rather nicely.

The attached is a list of things to see on visiting Columbus.

Today I would like to introduce Dan Mathias you TD:

He has been in the hobby since 1976 when he had the distinction of
being the very first person to win the Best Country award when they
were introduced at Origins 2 (DipCon 9). He has been the TD for
Orgins for over 12 years now including the last time the WDC was held
in Columbus 1996 . He has been to Europe and played at the Swedish
hosted WDC in 1997.

and the view from the balcony right outside the game room.

The building to the right houses two restaurants including a Fish
restaurant and an Oriental specialty restaurarnt. Across the street
on the opposite corner is a steak house.

The Origins fee arrangements will have a special Diplomacy 'Ribbon'
that will cover the costs for all the Diplomacy rounds of regular
games, variants and the 1 on 1 challenges.

The Diplomacy Ribbon will also cover you for Board Games in the CAB
Board Game area on the same floor.

Currently the usual suspects for the event include

North Americans

Doug Moore

Jake Mannix

Mark Zoffel

Chris Martin

Adam Silverman

Tom Kobrin

David Hood

Edi Birsan

Mike Hall

Nathan Barnes

Andy Bartalone

Don Williams

Eric Mead

Steve Cooley

Rick Desper

Graham Woodring

Andy Hull

Jim O Kelly

Ike Porter

Grant Smith

Riaz Virani

Nicolas Sahuguet

Brian Sheldon

Robert Vollman

Philip Burk

Len Tennant

Don Del Grande

Buz Eddy

Greg Duenow

Chris Young

Dave Maletsky

Jim Burgess

Tim Richardson

Dan Mathias

Thomas Haver

Thomas Comstock

Eric Grinnell

Jason Seifert

Chris Mazza

Ian Zernechel

Jerry Prochazka

Don Glass

Robert Zahn

Michael Costalas

Chris Lasky

VISITING COLUMBUS AND OHIO AREA

An excellent place to start would be the Origins 2009 Website.

http://www.originsg ames.com/

[Origins has a Children's Room/Day Care, and various Family/Spouse
Games. They even schedule group trips to the Zoo, COSI, etc.,]

General website information:

Columbus Experience (Tourism Website) http://
www.experiencecolum bus.com/

Columbus Arts (Website for Future Events) http://www.artsinoh io.com/

Bruce Lee Legends of Martial Art Hall of Fame Museum http://
www.wuma.com/

Columbus Museum of Art (http://www.columbus museum.org/

COSI (Center of Science and Industry) http://www.cosi. org/

Santa Maria (Ship Replica) http://www.santamar ia.org/index. php

Jack Nicklaus Museum http://www.nicklaus museum.org/

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium http://www.columbus zoo.org/

Following are easily located or within short road trips:

Caverns:

http://www.ohiocave rns.com/

http://www.olentang yindiancaverns. com/

http://www.senecaca vernsohio. com/

History

Motts Military Museum

Ohio Historical Center and Ohio Village

Thurber House

Eden Park Equestrian Complex

World Class Golf Courses

http://www.thememor ialtournament. com/site. htm