session.close()
    issues_session.close()
    debrief_session.close()
    users_session.close()
    

    # Build the attribute definition dictionary from the definitions spreadsheet file
    if global_config['attr_definitions'] != None:
        attrdef_filename = './config/' + global_config['attr_definitions']
        if os.path.exists(attrdef_filename):
            attr_definitions = AttributeDefinitions.AttrDefinitions()
            attr_definitions.parse(attrdef_filename)
            
            # WebGenExtJsStoreFiles.gen_js_store_files(global_config, attr_definitions)
            WebAttributeDefinitions.init_attr_def_forms(attr_definitions)


    # make sure that the required directories exist
    directories = ('ScoutingData', 'ScoutingPictures')
    competition = global_config['this_competition'] + global_config['this_season']        
    for directory in directories:
        base_dir = './static/data/' + competition + '/' + directory + '/'
        try: 
            os.makedirs(base_dir)
        except OSError:
            if not os.path.isdir(base_dir):
                raise
    
    #ImageFileUtils.create_thumbnails_by_directory('./static/data/%s/ScoutingPictures' % competition)