MEDIA RELEASE June 30, 2000

The Canadian Mathematical Society will introduce the 2000 Canadian International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Team at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby on Tuesday, July 4 (11:30 a.m. Diamond University Centre - near the Visitor Information Centre).

Joined by families, friends, sponsors and invited guests, the 2000 Canadian IMO Team are preparing to depart for the 41^st Annual IMO in Seoul, Korea. Well wishers include Mr. Byong-Il Kang, Korean Consul General for Vancouver; Dr. John Waterhouse, Vice-President Academic (Designate), Simon Fraser University; Dr. Len Berggren, Chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Nassif Ghoussoub, Director, Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences; and Dr. Jonathan Borwein, President of the Canadian Mathematical Society.

"These students have demonstrated the exceptional problem solving skills and creativity that is crucial to compete against the very best at the international level," said Dr. Graham Wright, Executive Director of the Canadian Mathematical Society, the organization responsible for the selection and training of Canada's IMO team. "They represent the great potential of students across the country and all experience an enormous pride in representing Canada on the international stage."

The Canadian Team comprises six high school students chosen from more than 200,000 students who have written various local, provincial, national and international contests. Team members and their coaches are attending a training camp at Simon Fraser University from June 30 to July 15. A few select students from across British Columbia who have excelled in math competitions are also attending the IMO training camp as observers.

The 2000 Canadian Olympiad "mathletes" are: David Arthur, Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario; Daniel Brox, Sentinel Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia; Denise Cheung, Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute, Toronto, Ontario; Keon Choi, A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, Toronto, Ontario; David Goodman, Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba; and David Pritchard, Woburn Collegiate Institute, Scarborough, Ontario.

The Team Leader is Dr. Andrew Liu (University of Alberta), the Deputy Team Leader is Dr. Christopher Small, (University of Waterloo), and the Deputy Team Leader - Observer is Ms. Viktoria Mineva, Solomon Learning Institute (Edmonton, Alberta).

Canada will challenge defending champions Russia and China and more than 80 other countries. Canada earned three bronze medals at the 1999 IMO in Romania. This year's contest will take place on July 19^th and 20^th and the results will be announced on July 24^th.

Students compete individually and each day involves answering three questions in 4.5 hours using their problem solving skills and without the use of a calculator. The International Jury initially prepares the contest paper in English, French, Russian and German and then the paper is painstakingly translated into over 40 languages, with enormous effort taken to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the questions.

Sample - "Chess Board" - Question (1999 IMO Day 1 - No. 3):

Consider an n x n square board, where n is a fixed even positive integer. The board is divided in n² unit squares. We say that two different squares on the board are adjacent if they have a common side.

N unit squares on the board are marked in such a way that every square (marked or unmarked) on the board is adjacent to at least one marked square.

Determine the smallest possible value for N.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Graham P. Wright
Executive Director
Canadian Mathematical Society
Cell Number: (613) 290-3046,
[or from June 30 to July 5^th in Vancouver (604) 294-1995]
Email: director@cms.math.ca