More than 1500 delegates from around the world have congregated at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort this week for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), the world championship mathematics competition for high school students.
The International Mathematical Olympiad is widely regarded as the most prestigious mathematical competition in the world and is being held over 10 days (10-20 July), involving some 635 students from 114 countries, the largest number of countries to participate at IMO since it began in 1959.
Australia has been competing in the event since 1981, and last hosted the event in Canberra in 1988.
Awards are given to the top-scoring 50 per cent of the individual contestants. In 1981, Australian delegate, 12-year-old Terence Tao, won a gold medal. He was the youngest-ever student to win gold and has gone on to be a world-leading mathematician. He will share his experiences as a guest speaker at this year’s Olympiad.
The Olympiad has been organised by the Australian Maths Trust, and supported by XTX Markets, the Australian Department of Industry Science and Resources, Sunshine Coast Council, and Visit Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she was thrilled to welcome the International Mathematical Olympiad 2025 to the Sunshine Coast and beyond the competition, it was a chance for young people to connect and explore our beautiful Biosphere – from our beaches to our mountains.
“With 61,200 trees being planted to offset the event’s carbon footprint, IMO 2025 reflects not just brilliance in maths, but a shared commitment to sustainability and global friendship,” she said
Visit Sunshine Coast Head of Business Events, Ali Thompson, said the Olympiad would deliver an immediate economic boost to the Sunshine Coast, estimated at more than $6 million, while in the longer-term it demonstrates the region’s ability to stage large-scale business events.
“The Sunshine Coast has transformed in the past decade, attracting many national companies to establish themselves in the region, and the International Mathematical Olympiad aligns very well with the growth of our knowledge economy,” she said.
