This is from Thorin Munro:

Topline update of preparations for WDC (1-3 October 2011).

Format / Rounds.
There are 5 rounds. All players will take a bye during one of the first 4 rounds.

• Fri 30th Sept: Pre-Tournament gathering at the Coogee Bay Hotel (drinks /dinner etc)
  
• Registration from 9am Sat 1st (if not preregistered - we'll set up an online facility)
• R1: Sat 1st Oct, 10am
• R2: Sat 1st, ~5pm
• R3: Sun 2nd, 10am (team round)
• R4: Sun 2nd, ~5pm
• R5: Mon 3rd, 10am
• Presentation: Mon 3rd, ~6pm

Accommodation
The venue did not want to do a package deal (popular long weekend). Best to book your accommodation early as it is a busy holiday long-weekend in Sydney.
Options within short walk to venue include.

• Coogee Bay Hotel (3 star, right at the venue. Might be abit noisy for some, overlooking the beer garden...)
• Coogee Bay Boutique hotel (ditto, right behind the venue)
• Crown Plaza (4 star, 100m up the hill. Proper international accom)
• Medina Executive (4 star, easy 3min walk)
  

For the budget conscious....

• Surfside Bacpackers (2 min walk)
• Wizards of Oz Backpackers (opposite Medina)

Try www.wotif.com for deals. Also check neighbouring suburbs like Randwick. Even CBD accommodation would be fine if you are comfortable catching buses. (Dan Burgess of Chicago Windy City Weasels wrote (11th March): "I am going to redeem points to stay at the Crowne Plaza next door for A$60 plus 15,000 points per night. Which will make it affordable for me. I've actually been there, I hiked from Bondi to Coogee on a sunny and cool August morning in 2008 and it was a real delight.")

Registration & Merchandising
Will Black is creating an online registration page. Details to come.
WDC Sydney 2011 branded polo shirts and caps have been sourced. Bundle deals will be available on registration. Anyone wanting the goodies at WDC will need to register & order & pay at least 2 weeks before the event to ensure I can get them made. Expect to see me modelling the shirts at VDC
Discussion group: Suggesting all registered players join the DAANZ discussion group to stay in touch: http://daanz.org.au/email_zines.htm#daanz-dip

Tournament Director
Very pleased to advise Rob Schone will use his diplomatic skills and international playing experience to guide the tournament!

Promoting the Tournament
There is a good quality flyer available for distribution: http://daanz.org.au/wdc2011/WORLD%20DIPCON%20XXI%20FLYER.pdf

The upcoming edition of DiplomacyWorld will have a number of Australian / WDC slanted articles including one by Larry Peery from the USA who played in WDC Canberra 2002. He sailed on the QE2 and spent 8 weeks exploring Australia!

Players: we have 37 confirmed and 36 maybe's. Good mix of local and international players. http://daanz.org.au/wdc2011/index.php

You can help by spreading the word. Please forward this update to anyone who may be interested.