World scouts unite via radio

Millions of scouts and guides from around the world got together over the airwaves and the internet for the annual Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the internet, organised over the weekend by the world organisation of the scout movement.

The first JOTA was held in 1958 on amateur radio, while the internet version has been held since 1996.

The initiative involved around 13 scout groups in Malta, who took the opportunity to chat with their foreign counterparts.

A communication centre was set up by the scouts association of Malta at the headquarters in Floriana and manned by the San Gwann scout group for the benefit of those who did not have their own resources.

Over the weekend, the San Gwann group logged over 3,000 internet connections with scouts in countries as far afield as Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Argentina and the US, and almost 200 radio connections.

Contacts increased over previous years due to better equipment, which, at the headquarters was sponsored by Crimsonwing, Keyworld and DataStream.

Other scouts set up their own stations and the girl guides were invited to attend.

The jamborees started on Friday and ended yesterday morning.