MEDIA RELEASE June 26, 2003

All media are invited to meet the team, composed of five Toronto-area students and one from Edmonton, on Friday, June 27, from 11 am 2 pm. Alex Fink, a University of Calgary mathematics student who placed in the top 10 this past year at the Putnam, a prestigious North American math competition, will also be on hand, as will several Calgary- and Edmonton-area high school students who are training with the team. (Details below.)

The Canadian IMO team members were selected from among more than 200,000 students in grades 7-13 who participated in local, provincial and national mathematics contests. While in Tokyo, they will be pitting their skills against close to 500 of the worldÂ’s best math students from 86 countries. The IMO competition consists of two exams over two days, each consisting of three questions and a time limit of four and a half hours.

"These students have demonstrated the exceptional problem-solving skills and creativity that is important to compete against the very best at the international level," says Dr. Graham Wright, executive director of the Canadian Mathematical Society. "They represent the great potential of students across the country and all share a great pride in representing Canada on the international stage. "At last year's IMO in Glasgow, the Canadian team tied for 12th out of the 84 competing countries and won five medals.

The team consists of Robert Barrington Leigh, Old Scona Academic High School, Edmonton; Olena Bormashenko, Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Toronto; Tianyi (David) Han, Woburn Collegiate Institute, Toronto; Oleg Ivrii, Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Toronto; János Kramár, University of Toronto Schools; and Jacob Tsimerman, University of Toronto Schools. Media can reach team members on Friday through (403) 220-2526.

The IMO send-off will take place at the U of CÂ’s Learning Commons, located on the fifth floor of the Biological Sciences Building. Excellent visuals will be available at 11 am when team members demonstrate some fun and interactive mathematical games. Introductions and presentations will begin at noon. Team members will be joined by friends, sponsors and invited guests, including Alana DeLong, MLA for Calgary Bow, Wayne Cao, MLA for Calgary Fort, and Dr. Dennis Salahub, U of C Vice-President (Research and International).

For more information on the Canadian Mathematical Society, see http://www.cms.math.ca/ For more information on the 2003 International Math Olympiad, see http://www.imo2003.com/

Media contact:

Dr. Graham P. Wright,
Executive Director Canadian Mathematical Society,
(613) 562-5702 or cell (613) 290-3046,
director@cms.math.ca