The Onassis Foundation has agreed to provide financing so that teams of Greek school pupils can attend the international or Balkan science Olympiads in 2015. The move came after problems with the Greek teams' participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad which will be held in July in Thailand. The Onassis Foundation issued an official statement saying that,
“Given the issues the Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs had with financing to allow Greek school teams to participate in international or Balkan Olympiads, the Onassis Foundation has provided the funds needed to the Ministry of Education and will cover the entire cost of participation for Greek teams in 2015.
After the chairman of the Onassis Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, contacted the Minister of Culture, Education & Religious Affairs, Aristidis Baltas, our two organisations worked closely and it was agreed that the Onassis Foundation would cover the cost of Greek teams attending international or Balkan science Olympiads for 2015.
One of the Onassis Foundation’s core activities is charitable work in the fields of education and culture, and at this difficult time it firmly supports the efforts of Greek school pupils and students to compete and achieve excellence abroad. We wish them the very best of luck!”
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held for the first time in 1958 is a highly interesting event, which Greece has been regularly attending for more than 30 years now. This year 111 countries took part. Over the last 4 years, 6-member teams from Greece managed to win 2 gold medals, 5 silver and 9 bronze, as well as 8 honourable mentions. In informal rankings, Greece normally occupies a very strong position among EU countries.
The pupils who participate in the event are chosen through mathematical competitions which have been organised every year by the Hellenic Mathematical Society from 1933 onwards, which around 15,000 pupils from all over Greece take part in. Participation and medal winning in those competitions are key criteria for selection for undergraduate and post-graduate courses at leading educational establishments abroad and help improve the country’s prestige in educational matters. Pupils who participate have received prizes from the President of the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Parliament, have been invited to the European Parliament and have received scholarships from renowned universities abroad.
On Thursday 2 July the Onassis Foundation welcomed the pupils and their teachers comprising the teams who will attend the international or Balkan science Olympiads in 2015 at its offices, where they were given a rousing send-off before travelling to the student games. The pupils and teachers were greeted by the Chairman of the Onassis Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, and the Minister of Education, Aristidis Baltas.
This year 46 pupils and 21 teachers accompanying them will participate in the international or Balkan science Olympiads with the support of the Onassis Foundation.
