is a contention like a convention?

Yeah. Though it's more like the faux spelling of convention when you've just come out of one of the scandinavian parties. As a word of advise, if you ever go to a science fiction convention the best evening parties are hosted by the Norwegians and the Finns, because they have copious supplies of booze. On the other hand the best supply of food came from the Swedish and Texan delegations.