The 57th International Mathematical Olympiad Successfully Completed in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, July 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 57^th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2016), one of the world's most important annual events in mathematics education, was successfully completed in Hong Kong today. Team USA achieved the best overall results, taking home 6 gold medals. Following USA as the top 5 competing teams are Republic of Korea (South Korea), People's Republic of China (mainland China), Singapore and Taiwan. This year, 6 contestants received the Perfect Score Acclamation[1].

Being the host city of IMO 2016, Team Hong Kong has received 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal this year, a record-breaking result since first participation in 1988. The gold medalists were John Michael Wu (male) from Hong Kong International School, Hoi Wai Yu (male) from La Salle College and Shun Ming Samuel Lee (male) from CNEC Christian College. The silver medalists were Wai Lam Cheung (male) and Yui Hin Arvin Leung, coming from Queen Elizabeth School and Diocesan Boys' School respectively. Kwok Man Yi (female) from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School received a bronze medal. 

A closing ceremony was held today to announce the results and mark the completion of the competition. The ceremony was officiated by Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, SBS, JP, Secretary for Education; Dr Geoff Smith, MBE, Chairman of the International Mathematical Olympiad Advisory Board; Prof Shum Kar Ping, Chairman of the International Mathematical Olympiad Hong Kong Committee (IMOHKC); and Prof Tony F Chan, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Addressing the closing ceremony, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, Secretary for Education, said he was happy to see the successful completion of the IMO 2016 and grateful for everyone's enthusiastic participation and support for the event, in particular the IMOHKC, HKUST and all the teacher and student volunteers. He also offered his warmest congratulations to the awardees on their fruitful achievements in the IMO 2016.

Prof Shum Kar Ping, Chairman of IMOHKC said, "Standing here, it brings me fond memories from 22 years ago when Hong Kong last hosted the International Mathematical Olympiad. This year we had a record number of participating countries and I am extremely pleased to see the enthusiasm and passion the contestants have demonstrated."

"One of the goals of the IMO is to promote mathematics and in nurturing future mathematicians. Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman Fields Medallist, won her first gold medal here in Hong Kong. Now, who can tell me the statistical probability that one of the participants this year will someday become a Fields Medallist? I also do not know the answer. But what I do know for a fact is that this competition has inspired your mathematical minds and through the cultural exchange with contestants from around the world, broadened your horizons," he added.

HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan said, "I am excited to see a passionate exchange of thoughts in mathematics and beyond at HKUST in the past week. I am also very pleased to have the opportunity to meet and talk with a number of contestants and impressed by their enthusiasm for mathematics. HKUST is proud to have been a host university of this prestigious international mathematics event to contribute to the promotion of the fun and joy of tackling mathematics. And as equally important, I hope that apart from trying diligently in surmounting the difficult mathematical problems given, student contestants have also established strong and everlasting international friendships that will lead to future collaboration for research and innovation between different countries."

Neighboring Asian countries/regions such as Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Taiwan and Japan all made improvements to the ranking table this year. Meanwhile South Korea maintained top 3 rankings in 4 out of 5 years consecutively, demonstrating the importance its government places in its development of mathematics.

Held from 6 to 16 July, IMO 2016 is participated by 602 contestants from 109 countries/regions[2] around the world and the addition of Nepal as an observing country. Organised by the IMOHKC with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as the Host University and the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government as the Supporting Organisation, the competition aims to bring talented young people together from all over the world to enjoy the challenges of mathematics in a spirit of friendly competition, as well as to promote among teachers an exchange of ideas on the development of mathematics education.

Top 10 results by country/region[3] :

For full list of IMO 2016 results, please visit this link: http://imo-official.org/results.aspx

The closing ceremony was highlighted with performances featuring IMO Hong Kong Committee member Dr. Mui Kwong Chiu as the music director. The ceremony came to an end with the handover of the IMO official flag to Brazil, the host of the next IMO.

About International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the highest-level and largest global international mathematics competition for secondary school students, and has been held each year in a different country or region since 1959, with the aim of providing a platform for exchange and contest for young mathematical talents around the world. Over the years, the IMO has grown in influence as well as the number of participating countries and regions, which has reached 100 in recent years. A number of IMO participants have eventually become top-notch mathematicians.

IMO 2016 is hosted by the International Mathematical Olympiad Hong Kong Committee with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as the Host University and the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government as the Supporting Organisation.

Sponsors of IMO 2016 include Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Limited, Wei Lun Foundation Limited, The Tung Foundation, The Chinese Manufacturer's Association of Hong Kong, GEG Foundation, CITADEL, Wong Chak Chui Charitable Foundation, Promax, Hong Kong Disneyland, G2000 Man and Jane Street.

Official website on IMO 2016: http://www.imo2016.org/ 
Official website on IMO: https://www.imo-official.org/

Please contact Lighthouse Consultant Limited should there be any enquirie:

[1]IMO Scores are based on the number of points scored by individual team members on 6 problems (42 as Perfect Score). Each each country/ region can send a maximum of 6 contestants to compete. This year, the 6 Perfect Score recipients are Yuan Yang (People's Republic of China)； Junghun Ju, Jaewon Choi and Eui Cheon Hong (Republic of Korea)；and Allen Liu and Yuan Yao (United States of America).
[2] IMO 2016 features 602 contestants from 109 countries/regions, amongst 531 are male contestants and 71 are female contestants.
[3] The IMO is a competition for individual contestants. Team rankings are for reference only and are not considered official information.