The International Mathematical Olympiad

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is an annual Mathematics competition, organized for high school students from all over the world. The aim of the IMO is to bring students, who are passionate about problem-solving, together, in an environment of friendly competition. This creates an opportunity for young Mathematics enthusiasts, of the participant countries, to challenge themselves as they strive to be chosen to represent their country. The inaugural IMO was held in Romania, in 1959, with the participation of students from seven countries. The number continued to increase, with each passing year, and the most recent IMO, in 2022, saw the participation of more than 100 countries, including most notably, all members of the G20. The member countries take turns in hosting the event, and this change of venue adds a cultural aspect to the competition, as well. The IMO is supported by the International Mathematical Olympiad Foundation (IMOF), which is a non-profit organisation, supervised by international volunteers, existing solely for the purpose of aiding countries that host the IMO.

Since the IMO was founded with the intention of encouraging schoolchildren to hone their Mathematical skills, it is a formal requirement that the participants not be enrolled in any university courses. The competition is based on the four principle areas of Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, and Number Theory, and there is no expectation that the students need any knowledge of Calculus. Of the Scientific Olympiads, held in the world, the IMO remains the oldest and most prestigious. It is recognized and held in high esteem, all over the world, and many universities seek out IMO participants to enroll in their institutions. The IMO provides a platform for the participants to exchange their thoughts on Mathematics Education, as well as their educational background and culture. The friendships, forged during the IMO, often grow to result in professional collaborations, and are, for most participants, one of the most valuable gains of the competition.

The selection for the IMO begins within each participating country and involves a National Mathematical Olympiad, organized by the respective country. From this stage, around 600 participants are chosen to represent their country at the IMO. The selection process, held in their own country, gives competitors the chance to interact with like-minded individuals of their own age group, in a mathematical context, but, as they move on to the IMO, it unifies them to become a team striving to bring glory to their motherland.

For Sri Lankan students, aspiring to participate in the IMO, the selection process takes place through their participation in the Sri Lankan Mathematical Olympiad (SLMO). The SLMO is organized annually by the Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation (SLOMF) and consists of two competitions. The first is the Sri Lankan Mathematics Competition (SLMC) and the SLOMF has conducted this competition in Sinhala, Tamil and English, island-wide, since 2004. The highest-scoring competitors of the SLMC progress to the Sri Lankan Mathematics Challenge Competition (SLMCC), from which the team for the IMO is selected, based on their scores. Since the launch of SLMO, in 2004, Sri Lanka has won bronze medals regularly at the IMO having a total count of 17 to date. The SLOMF has thus been fundamental in enhancing a culture appreciative of good mathematics in Sri Lanka.