Johannesburg, 08 Aug 2006
Despite high hopes for success, the South African team entered in the software development category of Microsoft`s annual Imagine Cup student technology event, held in Agra, India, was knocked out this morning, when the second-round semi-finalists for the category were announced.
Ranked in the top 12, teams from Denmark, India, Italy, Germany, Russia, Slovenia, Croatia, Japan, USA, China, Norway and Brazil face an even more rigorous round of interviews and presentations.
The judging takes place during the course of this afternoon and throughout the evening, where six finalists are decided upon. Judges` decisions are held back until tomorrow evening when the field is further narrowed down.
After the event relocates to Delhi later this week, the six finalists get an opportunity to conduct a public presentation to all competitors, mentors, press and other attendees.
The results from a last round of judging and the judging decisions made in other categories which took place earlier this week are kept secret until the gala event evening on Friday, where the winners in each category are crowned as 2006 Imagine Cup champions and rewarded with substantial cash prizes.
While judges` comments thus far have been submitted anonymously, all of the judges remain in agreement with regards to the overall quality of the innovative products and solutions the competition has brought to the fore.
"Announcing who goes through into the next round and who doesn`t is always the toughest part of an Imagine Cup event," says Emanuele Ognassanti, in charge of the Imagine Cup at Microsoft.
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