The events listed below were held at the 2022 International Geography Championships and are likely or certain to be held in 2024 as well. Certain other non-competitive events may be added to the program as well.
The Opening Ceremonies of the 2022 International Geography Championships will take place on the campus of the University of Vermont on the afternoon of the first day of IGC (Sunday, July 3). All participants in IGC, including attending family members, friends and coaches are encouraged to attend (participating students are required to do so). The Opening Ceremonies will feature pomp, pageantry, and lots of important announcements and information regarding the week ahead. Directly after the Opening Ceremonies, there will be a reception with lemonade and cookies or similar fare for all participants.
For students who arrive early on arrival day, we’ll organize a few icebreaker games that morning with a geography theme or focus. There will also be an opening reception for parents (and for students not competing in the first few medal events) in the afternoon after the Opening Ceremonies. If students are tired and wish to sleep, or otherwise socialize with friends or family during these times, that would certainly be fine as well.
For medal events, awards will be distributed each day in the evening. As the International Geography Championships features three age divisions, students will only attend (and must attend, since will also be making important announcements each evening there too) the medals ceremonies for their age division. A schedule of when the medals ceremonies for each event will take place will be provided to all attending students and their accompanying friends and family members in advance of IGC. Medals Ceremonies will also take place at multiple times on the final day. This plan is subject to change given space requirements, though.
Participating students might know all the capitals of every country in the world, but do they know which companies are active in which industries in which countries? Are they truly familiar with international food and drink? Have they traveled as extensively as their parents? Do they know which bands were in the British Invasion? It turns out that Mom and Dad (and other attending family members) might have a bit of a cultural geography “head start” on their children. We’ll find out how well families are able to cross-generationally collaborate together during this informal audio quiz!
If you have an interest in journalism, here’s your chance to cover IGC as a correspondent reporting from Vermont! Whether on our website, Youtube channel, newsletter, or other social media sites; in media outlets in our host city and country, or back in your hometown; or for the international press, we’re looking to spread the word about all of the great accomplishments of the competing students at the 2022 International Geography Championships! Our staff will advise based on journalism guidelines, and then you’ll have a chance to be part of the story as you cover it. Students in the Press Corps will each have a specific responsibility based on their interests and skills (e.g. photography, social media, copy writer, public relations, etc.). We will also have dedicated press conferences with students and staff that will be streamed on Facebook Live, along with certain matches. That will allow friends and family to follow your accomplishments in real time!
The Closing Ceremonies of the 2022 International Geography Championships will take place on the evening of the last full day IGC (i.e. July 9). All participants in IGC, including family members, friends, and coaches are encouraged to attend. The Closing Ceremonies will ature the medals ceremonies for the International Geography Bee World Championships and International Geography Bowl, and the overall IGC champions will be crowned here as well. We will also reveal the final Medals Standings to see which team finishes the week on top. The venue will likely be determined by the end of January 2022, and will be posted here once it has been finalized.