Three Ghanaian students join world geography competition

Accra, May 20, GNA - Three of Ghana's brightest geography students have been selected to participate in the seventh national Geographic World Championship from July 10-15, this year, in Budapest, Hungary.

The international contest, which will feature 21 teams from around the globe is organised by the National Geographic Society in the US and sponsored by the Hungarian National Tourist office.

The three students who have excelled in Ghana's national geography competition and will comprise the Ghanaian team are Master Festus Brew Quansah, Master Joseph Addae-Kusi both of Mfantsepim Secondary School, Cape Coast and Master Jonathan Kwofie of Government Secondary Technical School, Takoradi.

The 21 teams will meet to answer questions on physical, human, cultural and economic geography in two levels of the competition. The current world champion, the United States, will defend its title against teams from Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom.

On July 11, the teams will take a written test, the following day they will battle each other in a challenging outdoor activity. The three teams with the highest scores from the written test and geography activity will meet at Budapest's Palace of Art on July 14 for the championship finals.

They will answer questions in a game show format, moderated by Alex Trebek, Host of the U.S. television quiz "Jeopardy".

Disclosing this to the GNA, Mr Paul Mark Owooh, the National Organising Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Geographic Association said the Hungarian National Tourist office was planning an exciting geographical experience for the world championship participants.

The students will enjoy a boat trip to Lake Balaton, visit the famous China factory of Herend, watch an equestrian show at Domony, visit the world Hentage site of the village of Holloko and bathe in the cave Spa in Miskoktapoka in northern Hungary.

Mr Owooh said, "The programme will end with a candle-lit-dinner at Budapest's Vajdahunyad Castle."

The National Geographic World Championship contest, held in London in 1993, was won by the United States, which beat teams from the United Kingdom and Russia.

The Australians, competing against four other teams, won the 1995 competition at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The third championship held in 1997 in Washington, D.C was won by Canada, which beat teams from eight other countries. The fourth competition held in Toronto, Canada, in 1999 was won by the United States, which also won the 2001 contest in Vancouver, Canada and the 2003 contest at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida. Eighteen countries took part.

"Promoting geography education is at the heart of the mission of the National Geographic Society," said John Fahey, Society President. "The National Geographic World Championship provides a forum for top geography students from all corners of the globe to pit their wits against each other to determine which country is the international geography champion."

"Each student gains knowledge of the other competing regions' cultures and becomes a better global citizen for the experience". "The Hungarian National Tourist office is especially proud of standing behind the most prestigious international geography competition in the world", said Gabor Gallo, Director-General of Hungary National Tourist office.

"The National Geographic World Championship is an exceptional opportunity for us to shape the image and boost the popularity of Hungary in the world".

National Geographic Channel Europe will be televising a behind the scenes documentary on this year's championship. The one-hour special will be broadcast in Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.

The highest scoring countries in the world where geography is keenly studied, according to literacy survey in 2002 are Sweden, Germany and Italy.

Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organisations in the world. It reaches more than 280 million people world-wide each month through its official journal, national geographic, and its four other magazines, the National Geographic Channel, television documentaries, radio programmes, films, books, video's and DVD's, maps and interactive media.

National Geographic has funded more than 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education programme combating geographic illiteracy.