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Young maths minds from all over the globe start competition for the International Mathematical Olympiad 2025 tomorrow as Great Britain takes 'the ashes' in early win

Australian Maths Trust

The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is now officially underway as the opening ceremony took place earlier today, Monday 14 July, at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Twin Waters. 

 

The Australian Maths Trust (AMT), on behalf of the Australian mathematics community, is excited and honoured to host the event which has drawn 635 students from 114 countries. The students will undertake nine hours of exams over the next two days, 15^th and 16^th July. IMO is the largest and most prestigious of all the international Olympiads, having grown from seven countries in 1959 to over a hundred each year. Australia has participated since 1981.

 

“IMO attracts the brightest young minds from around the world. These are students from years 9 – 12 or equivalent from over 100 nations. The competition represents the culmination of many years of mathematical endeavour and hundreds of attempts at solving problems,” said Mike Clapper, CEO of the Australian Maths Trust (AMT).

 

“This year’s IMO Australian team has already been getting into the competitive spirit, as the Australian team took on the team from Great Britain for some friendly side competition ahead of the main exams. Considered ‘the ashes’ of IMO, both nations undertake some friendly questions to get their minds into gear, and this year it’s Great Britain who’ve taken the ‘ashes’ title, pipping Australia by just a single mark in a close-fought competition. Congratulations go to Great Britain” Mr Clapper continued.

 

“We wish all the IMO students all the best for the exams, and we look forward to finding out the results when the students and their countries are presented on Saturday 19^th July,” Mike Clapper concluded.

 

IMO 2025 is made possible by AMT’s Principal Sponsor XTX Markets, a leading algorithmic trading firm, and proud donor to maths education globally, along with other sponsors including the Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast. For more information on IMO 2025, and the Australian Maths Trust, visit IMO 2025 | Australian Maths Trust

 

***VIDEO INTERVIEW FOR DOWNLOAD & USE***

Media are welcome to download and publish the video of AMT CEO Mike Clapper talking about the International Mathematical Olympiad 2025. Download via this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/lmlsod8roglldz0f9j4cm/AAzF1-IebVuJyVcqEr0w5tQ?rlkey=62lfve5ec2kp17wgcno6h7noy&e=1&st=v6ny45va&dl=0

 

INTERVIEW/PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES 

Over the next few days, we may be able to coordinate interview and photo opportunities with the Australian Maths Trust, competing students and Guest Lecturers at the International Mathematical Olympiad 2025 on the Sunshine Coast at the following times:

 

• Wednesday 16^th July, following competition – 2-6pm.
• Thursday 17^th July, morning before the students attend their Queensland excursions – 7-9am
• Friday 18^th July, evening prior to the presentation on Saturday 19^th July.

 

QUICK FACTS ON IMO

• IMO is the largest of all the scientific  Olympiads. This prestigious competition was first held in Romania in 1959 where 7 countries participated.
• IMO takes place on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, from 10-20 July 2025.
• The official competition exams run from Tuesday 15^th July – Wednesday 16^th July,  and are held at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Twin Waters. 
• The competition will include 9 hours of exam time for students across 2 days.
• This IMO is the second time Australia has hosted the prestigious event, the first being Canberra in 1988.
• AMT is excited to be welcoming four interesting and diverse guest speakers at IMO 2025. Terence Tao, Cheryl Praeger, Eddie Woo and Burkard Polster will all be delivering guest lectures at the event (bios available on request)
• At the 1988 IMO in Canberra Bob Hawke presented young Australian mathematician, Terence Tao, with his gold medal. Terence Tao is now widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest mathematicians and will be coming to the IMO this year to give a special guest lecture to the participating students.
• The Sunshine Coast held a Mascot naming competition at Sunshine Coast schools – Algebaroo – is the mascot which represents the tying together of a key area of mathematics, algebra, with Australia’s much-loved kangaroo.
• IMO will see the launch of the AMT Alumni Network - a new program that aims to enable ex-Olympians to better connect with each other and with the activities of the AMT.
• IMO 2026 will take place in China, and IMO 2027 will take place in Hungary.
• 635 students are taking part from 114 countries.
• 35,000 meals are being prepared over 12 days – 33% of which are vegetarian.
• 61,200 trees have been planted in Australia and abroad to offset the carbon emissions created by the event.

 

 

 

STORY ANGLES/IDEAS

• How over 110 countries are putting their brains together in Australia to solve the worlds hardest problems.
• These kids will change the world with maths - and they are all going for gold in the Sunshine Coast.
• Meet the Australian IMO team –
• William Cheah, Scotch College, VIC
• William Liu, The King’s School, NSW
• Xiangyue Nan, Fintona Girls’ School, VIC
• Jayden Pan, Shore School, NSW
• Justin Tran, Sydney Grammar School, NSW
• Zihui Zhang, Clayfield College, QLD
• Before the Sporting Olympics arrive in Queensland - these students are going for gold in the Maths Olympics.
• Australian schools investing in mathematics education and STEM subjects for a brighter future.
• The world’s smartest mathematicians are all in Australia this week and they are all school students.
• Remember when the Big Blue IBM beat the world master chess champion back in the 1980s? Will AI be able to beat the smartest kids in the world at their maths games?

• IMO 2025 presents the opportunity to meet the next generation of problem solvers, share meals and cultural experiences, and learn together.
• Profile our Australian maths heroes:
  • Terrence Tao
  • Cheryl Praeger
  • Eddie Woo
  • Burkard Polster

 

About us:

About Australian Maths Trust (AMT)

AMT’s vision is to develop a nation of creative problem solvers, and they believe maths is the most effective way to get students there. The AMT’s competitions and programs provide an opportunity for young Australians to challenge and extend their creative problem-solving skills and prepare them for a future of real-world problems. More information on the Trust can be found at www.amt.edu.au

Contact details:

For more information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact:

 

1.      Gabi Reid, AMT Communications Manager, 0439 582 720 or [email protected]

2.      Todd Wright, Director at Threesides Marketing, 0419 417 024 or [email protected]