SA maths olympiad plan under threat

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Independent Newspapers

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LACK of funding looks set to scupper plans for South Africa to host the 55th International Mathematical Olym-piad (IMO) in 2014.

Set to take place here from July 3 to 14, 2014, the event is described as the world championship mathematics competition for high school pupils, attracting competitors from 100 countries, spanning five continents.

IMO South Africa organising committee head Professor John Webb said he hoped generous sponsors would save the event.

The first IMO was held in Romania in 1959, with seven participating countries. Webb pointed out that IMO countries such as Germany and the Netherlands had typically had about 80 percent of the event’s budget covered by their governments.

“In cases of command economies, such as Vietnam and Kazakhstan, the coverage has been 100 percent. Thailand (hosting IMO 2015) has been guaranteed support from its government. This year, Brazil was approved as the host country for IMO 2017. They received financial guarantees from their government.”

Professor Johann Engelbrecht, executive director of the South African Mathematics Foundation which has been preparing for the local event, said South Africa had competed for the past 20 years. Each year the South African team of six pupils had been hosted free of charge.

He said maths competitions and olympiads flourished in developed countries, awakening the mathematical talent of many youngsters. Holding [such] a high-profile event in South Africa will bring [maths] into the public eye.”

l For more information, call Engelbrecht at SAMF on 012 392 9372, or Webb at 021 650 3193.

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SA maths olympiad plan under threat