After Christmas, summer holidays, Argentina's Bicentennial celebrations and other circumstances that are as ephemeral as time, we are coming to the end of the XXI World Allergy Congress (WAC 2009).

We continue working in 2010 with unusual satisfaction, after having been able to organize an extraordinary WAC 2009, not only from the point of view of scientific excellence but also from the perspective of the social program. The organizational and logistical work done by the Organizing Committee, especially the local one, and the Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) of Argentina was world-class and of such efficiency that it was highlighted by many colleagues and friends in their warm letters of congratulation.

We specially thank our closest collaborators for their commitment, selflessness and time devoted to the organization of WAC 2009 since they were essential for the achievement of this success. We expected to hold a congress that would finally ratify what we are capable of doing in the field in our country when we commit ourselves to working with seriousness, creativity, dedication and respect for the rules that make ventures successful, and we feel the satisfaction of having attained it. Moreover, we want to express our pride in having been able to show all of Argentina’s greatness. At every minute, this Cordobese and this Italian that sign below have felt how “our” dear Buenos Aires welcomed us with her traditional and warm hospitality and beauty.

We had to preside over this congress in a very complicated context, the world financial crisis that still affects the global economy, Swine Flu and other international and local obstacles are just some examples of those difficulties, but...we did it!

We would like to highlight the wonderful work done by Argentina’s PCO, Ana Juan Congresos, as well as the collaboration of the WAO, Edi Inc. Secretariat in the United States.

WAC 2009 has been the result of many years of enormous work of the different committees, but, especially, of the small and stoic local committee that worked with total commitment and generosity during the last year in the final stages of the organization, which were the hardest and most intense. For us, the undersigned, organizing WAC 2009 meant to continue serving WAO and trying to devote our years of dedication and experience to the international community of the field. To all who made WAC 2009 possible, to sponsors, to hired service companies that worked with great professionalism, to those who encouraged us, to those who constructively and healthily criticized us, to those who gave us ideas and affection, to those who have glowingly praised us... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!