News
ORTEC to sponsor International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
05 January 2010
- IMO 2011 to be held in the Netherlands for the first time
- Dutch Mathematical Olympiad celebrates 50th anniversary!
In 2011, the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) will be held in the Netherlands for the very first time. On 29 January 2010, State Secretary for Education Marja van Bijsterveld will be at the Netherlands' largest science center 'NEMO' in Amsterdam to kick off this event. Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen will also be present.
On that day, 100 students of schools in Amsterdam will participate in the first round of the Dutch Mathematical Olympiad. After two rounds it will be decided which six Dutch contestants will be taking part in the prestigious IMO. At the same time, the Dutch Mathematical Olympiad will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In light of this occasion, the Netherlands seized the opportunity to host the IMO.
"There's a strong chance that the Netherlands' contestants will reach the top," says CEO of ORTEC, Aart van Beuzekom. "In 2009, the Dutch team won silver and bronze at the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad in Bremen, Germany, as well as two honorable mentions." ORTEC has been sponsoring the Mathematical Olympiad since 2007. "One of the main reasons for us to support the Mathematical Olympiad is to stimulate students to be more enthusiastic about mathematics."
Considerable social relevance
"The ambition to take mathematics to a higher level by means of the Mathematical Olympiad, is one we fully support," says Aart van Beuzekom. "Math is fun and challenging. As opposed to what many students may think, the mathematical problems they solve in high school actually do come in handy later on in life. Companies like ORTEC are solid proof for the fact that math or – more importantly – someone with analytical skills has considerable social relevance. Sponsoring the Mathematical Olympiad works in our favor too, because we are investing in the Netherlands' mathematicians of the future."
Exciting event
The International Mathematical Olympiad in 2011 will be quite an exciting event for the Netherlands. Talented young people from all over the world will visit the Netherlands for nine days and will gain unique experiences during a program packed with interesting excursions and activities. The 52nd International Mathematical Olympiad will be held in the Netherlands in 2011.
About the International Mathematical Olympiad
The annual International Mathematical Olympiad is hosted by a different country every year. The contestants consist of talented students from some 100 different countries. Each country is represented by a team of six or less contestants, supported by team leaders and coaches. The contestants are high school students under the age of 20. The national Mathematical Olympiad consists of two rounds, followed by a training program, after which six students are selected to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad. The first ever IMO was held in Romania in 1959.