Intelnacom, Bahrain said it is working to increase the number of participants for this year's Festival of the Mind from October, 23 to 26 2008 in Bahrain at the Gulf International Convention Centre (GCC) Gulf Hotel.

Tony Buzan, renowned as the inventor of Mind Maps, skilled international lecturer and best-selling author of 95 books on memory and the workings of the brain will be the star of the show for the second consecutive year.

Fuad Mubarak, Deputy CEO of Intelnacom said: "The workshops were very popular last year and we are working to increase the number for this year so that no-one who is keen to expand their mental capacity though learning at the FOM, is disappointed."

Buzan spends up to 10 months a year delivering awe-inspiring and fascinating presentations and courses to avid audiences (often to thousands of people in packed-out arenas) throughout all five continents.

Over the past six months his lecturing tours have included Mexico, Egypt, Bahrain, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Africa and Jordan. He has gained many fans of his Mind Maps including Microsoft's Bill Gates and ex-US vice President Al Gore.

Mubarak said: "We are thrilled, once again, to have Tony Buzan provide us with his presence and lectures during the festival. His appearance is much anticipated and we have already received inquiries for his performances."

Significantly, modern studies confirm that creativity is not a rare gift of the chosen few but a series of cognitive skills that can be taught, harnessed and applied.

When such skills are developed effectively, the possibilities for individuals to expand their minds, create, manage and lead are infinite.

Workshops, some in both Arabic and English, will be held on mind development techniques such as:- ‘The Power of Positive Thinking;  ‘Unleash the Power of your Memory’; ‘Mind Mapping and Memory Skills’ ; Developing a Child’s Emotional Intelligence’;  ‘Read Faster & Better With Colour Technology; Food for the Brain (How to maximize your child’s brain power) in both, Bio Feedback & Mind-Body Energy Systems  and  ‘Speed Reading for Teenagers’; ‘Mind Maps Training’ and ‘Study Skills for Students’.

More workshops would be welcomed to add to the current topics available during the event.

The annual World Memory Championships will also be held for the second time on the sidelines of The Festival of the Mind. Buzan is founder of the event, which is in its 17th year.

Competitors from all over the World will compete for the title of World Memory Championship competing in 10 disciplines such as spoken numbers, playing cards, dates, abstract images, binary digits, random words and names and faces.

Overall, the annual World Memory Championship represents one of the toughest mental tests of all time with competitors being asked to memorise 4,000 digit numbers and recall with absolute accuracy at least ten packs of cards in one hour.

Members of the public and young learners in particular, are already looking forward to the event.

Mariam Al Salam a student at University of Bahrain said: "'The Festival of the Mind' is a great event for Bahrain, it is exciting to know that there are opportunities in Bahrain to learn new techniques for developing the mind.

"I am sure this will help me in my studies and I look forward to learning from experts that will be brought to Bahrain for the ‘Festival of The Mind’."

More information about ‘The Festival of the Mind’ workshops will be made available on the website www.worldfestivalofthemind.com.

Intelnacom is an innovation company registered in Bahrain, and focuses on rewarding opportunities offered by emerging high-tech innovation.

Intelnacom actively seeks to identify, develop, fund and bring-to-market concepts a