Why do YOU deserve a trip to the finals in Las Vegas?

Did you miss out on making it as a TCO finalist? Still want to see the finals in Las Vegas anyway? Here's your chance!

The contest:
Write to us and tell us why you'd be a good candidate to come to Las Vegas and blog about the 2006 TopCoder® Open, Sponsored by AMD. We want someone to join us at the finals and give a member's perspective on the competition, the atmosphere, and the city. You'll win a trip to Las Vegas, as well as have your blog posted on the TCO website for everyone to read.

Who can compete:
In order to be eligible, you must be a registered TopCoder member who is 18 years of age or older as of May 1, 2006. All eligible members may submit an entry, regardless of their current standing in the TCO, but only the entries of those members who are not TCO finalists or Review Board members will be considered. That is, contestants cannot be both a TCO finalist or Review Board member AND the winner of this contest.

How it will work:
Email your story to TopCoder at pickme@topcoder.com. TopCoder staff will read through the submissions and choose the member they think is most deserving of the trip. The winning submission will be featured in the TCO06 program and on the TopCoder website.

What you get:
The member with the winning submission wins an expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas, including airfare, hotel and certain meals paid for by TopCoder. But you don't get this all for free! We'll want you to write about your experience as the competitions take place so we can update your blog throughout the finals.

Important dates:
Submit your story now! The deadline for submission is March 31, 2006, at 5:00PM EST. Submissions received after that time will not be considered. The lucky winner will be announced on the website and via email on April 17, 2006.

Rules:
Each eligible member may make only one submission of 500 words or less. Submissions over 500 words will not be taken into consideration. Submissions must be in English and be a .doc, .pdf or .txt file.

The winner must be able to travel to Las Vegas, NV, USA from May 2 - May 6, 2006. If the selected winner does not provide TopCoder with evidence of possessing the necessary documents and/or visas to travel to the U.S. as of April 17, 2006, TopCoder will select another winner.

The winner will be required to submit blog entries on these dates and times:

• Tuesday, May 2, 2006 by 9:00PM
• Wednesday, May 3, 2006 by 11:30AM
• Wednesday, May 3, 2006 by 6:30PM
• Wednesday, May 3, 2006 by 10:30PM
• Thursday, May 4, 2006 by 11:30AM
• Thursday, May 4, 2006 by 6:30PM
• Thursday, May 4, 2006 by 10:30PM
• Friday, May 5, 2006 by 11:30AM
• Friday, May 5, 2006 by 5:30PM
• Friday, May 5, 2006 by 9:30PM

If the winner does not submit the required entries as outlined above, the winner will be required to reimburse TopCoder the cost of attending the TopCoder Open (including airfare, lodging and meals), plus the cost TopCoder incurs to procure the entries required above.

Conditions of Participation:
By participating in this contest, you agree to be bound by these rules and to all decisions of TopCoder, which are final, binding and conclusive in all matters.

Contestants must not cheat. All submissions must be the contestant's alone and must not have been written by anyone other than the contestant.

The winner must:

• Provide to TopCoder evidence of having the required travel documents by 5:00PM ET on April 17, 2006, and
• Complete the Travel Form (which provides TopCoder with the appropriate travel information for your trip to the onsite finals) and submit it to TopCoder by 5:00PM EDT on Wednesday, April 19, 2006.

All decisions relating to the viability of submissions and to all other matters pertaining to the contest shall be within the sole discretion of TopCoder or its designee and shall be final and binding in all respects.

By submitting an entry to be considered, and thereby participating in this contest, you hereby release and agree to hold harmless TopCoder, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, sponsors, and prize suppliers, and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents, from and against any and all liability for any loss, property damage or damage to person, including without limitation, death and injury, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from or arising out of participation in this contest, or participation in any contest-related activity, or the receipt, use or misuse of a prize. TopCoder specifically disclaims all liability associated with, and makes no warranties with regard to, any prize given.

In addition, if you win, you agree to cooperate with TopCoder's publicity efforts, without further compensation. This includes the agreement to use your name, handle, address (city and state) and likeness for publicity purposes, where legal, for this or similar future contests, and to use the statements made by, or attributed to, you relating to TopCoder and any and all rights to said use, without further compensation. Furthermore, you agree to promptly notify TopCoder if a third-party, including a tournament sponsor, contacts you regarding employment opportunities and/or media interest as a result of your participation in the contest.

TopCoder reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to revoke any and all privileges associated with competing in this contest, and to take any other action it deems appropriate, for no reason or any reason whatsoever, including if TopCoder suspects competitors of tampering with the entry process, the operation of the Web site, or the contest process, or otherwise being in violation of the rules. TopCoder reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned for any reason. TopCoder reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify prior to or subsequent to posting on its website any weblog entry received from the winner.

Other
The contest is void in whole or in part where prohibited by law.

This contest is brought to you by TopCoder, Inc. (http://www.topcoder.com/) 703 Hebron Avenue (now 95 Glastonbury Blvd), Glastonbury, CT 06033.