Regulations of the 47^th International Mathematical Olympiad

The 47^th International Mathematical Olympiad (the "IMO 2006") will be held in Slovenia from July 6 to July 18, 2006.

These regulations (the "regulations") govern the running of the IMO 2006.

The Society of Mathematicians, Physicists and Astronomers of Slovenia (Društvo matematikov, fizikov in astronomov Slovenije; the "DMFA Slovenije") has an overall responsibility for the organization of the IMO 2006.

The aims of the IMO 2006 are:

• to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people in all countries;
• to foster friendly international relationships among mathematicians of all countries;
• to create an opportunity for the exchange of information on school syllabuses and practices throughout the world;
• to promote mathematics generally.

Participation in the IMO 2006 is by invitation only. Each invited country is entitled to send a team consisting of up to six contestants (the "Contestants"), a Leader and a Deputy Leader to be known collectively as the participants (the "Participants").

Contestants must not have formally enrolled at a university or any other equivalent post-secondary institution, and they must have been born on or after July 14, 1986.

Observers including family members (the "Observers") may apply to accompany the Participants and the terms under which they can do so are detailed in sub-clause 3.6 below.

The official programme (the "Official Programme") as referred to below is the programme and outline itinerary for the IMO 2006 and associated events. DMFA Slovenije reserves the right to amend or revise the Official Programme in whole or part. If there is by any chance a significant change, Participants, Observers and Ministry officials of the invited countries will be notified in advance.

• The Official Programme for Leaders begins on July 6, 2006 and ends on July 18, 2006.
• The Official Programme for Deputy Leaders and the Contestants begins on July 10, 2006 and ends on July 18, 2006.

The Official Programme will contain, among other things, details of accommodation arrangements (inclusive of food) for Participants and Observers and the venues for various official events associated with the IMO 2006.

Each invited country wishing to participate in the IMO 2006 must confirm participation online using username and password provided by DMFA Slovenije no later than February 15, 2006. This will also confirm that the Leader agrees to abide by the Regulations for the IMO 2006.

• Registration of Leaders, Deputy leaders, Observers and Accompanying persons must be completed online no later than April 30, 2006.
• Registration of contestants must be completed online no later than May 31, 2006.
• Registration of arrival/departure dates of participants must be completed online no later than June 10, 2006.

Leaders and Deputy Leaders are responsible for the conduct of the Contestants, and for the avoidance of doubt the Leaders and Deputy Leaders are acting in loco parentis for their Contestants except where DMFA Slovenije has been notified in writing that an Observer has been nominated to act in loco parentis.

Leaders and Deputy Leaders must ensure that their Contestants know and fully understand clause 5 of these Regulations. They must also make it clear that any Contestant who violates any of these Regulations may be liable to disqualification from the IMO 2006. In order to avoid any trouble or accident, Leaders and Deputy Leaders must also inform fully their Contestants of the contents of "Important Contest Information For Contestants".

DMFA Slovenije will provide accommodation in shared rooms, meals, transport between Ljubljana Airport or Ljubljana Railway Station and the accommodation site and other necessary transport between the accommodation site and other venues on the Official Programme for all the Participants and Observers. In order to maintain the integrity of the IMO 2006, the Official Programme will not be confirmed until arrival.

Other than in respect of the provision of accommodation, meals and transport as detailed in clause 3.1 of the Official Programme, DMFA Slovenije shall not be liable under any circumstances for any costs or expenses whatsoever or howsoever incurred by any Participant or Observer in connection with the IMO 2006 (including without limitation the costs and expenses of insurance, accommodation, meals and transport):

• who spends extra days in Slovenia outside the relevant dates specified in sub-clauses 2.4 and 2.5 above, or;
• in respect of transportation to and from Slovenia (or within Slovenia prior to arrival at Ljubljana Airport or Ljubljana Railway Station) incurred by Participants or Observers.

All Participants and Observers are responsible for obtaining full accident, health and travel insurance. It is the Leader's responsibility to confirm that this condition has been met for all members of his or her team.

DMFA Slovenije expects to offer opportunities to Participants and Observers for excursions and cultural trips but will be under no obligation to do so.

In reference to sub-clause 3.1 above the deadline for receipt of an application for accomodation in single room is April 30, 2006. Since extra accommodation is limited, no guarantee is given that such applications will be successful. For those applications that are notified as successful, full payment must be made in cleared funds of the following charges by June 1, 2006. Any application received without the full payment of the charges will be rejected. No refund is allowed.

• Leader: 400€ (four hundred Euros) for a single room.
• Deputy Leader: 300€ (three hundred Euros) for a single room.
• Contestant: Accomodation in single rooms for Contestants is not available.

In reference to sub-clause 2.3 above the deadline for receipt of an application to observe the Participants is April 30, 2006. Since extra accommodation is limited, no guarantee is given that such applications will be successful. For those applications that are notified as successful, full payment must be made in cleared funds of the following charges by June 1, 2006. Any application received without the full payment of the charges will be rejected. No refund is allowed.

• Observer A: 2000€ (two thousand Euros) for a shared room per person accompanying the Leader and residing at the Leaders' site (for 12 nights) or 2400€ (two thousand four hundred Euros) for a single room per person accompanying the Leader and residing at the Leaders' site (for 12 nights).
• Observer B: 1650€ (one thousand six hundred fifty Euros) for a shared room per person accompanying the Deputy Leader and residing at their sites (for 8 nights) or 1950€ (one thousand nine hundred fifty Euros) for a single room per person accompanying the Deputy Leader and residing at their sites (for 8 nights).
• Observer C: 1000€ (one thousand Euros) for a shared room per person accompanying the Contestants and residing at their site (for 8 nights). Accomodation in single rooms for observers C is not available.

Consideration will be given to applications from Observers wishing to attend and observe the IMO 2006 for only part of the period of the Official Programme and in such cases the charges, accommodation and all other relevant arrangements that will apply will be separately confirmed by DMFA Slovenije.

Each participating country other than the host country is expected to submit up to six proposed problems, with solutions, to be received by the Problem Selection Committee no later than March 15, 2006. The proposals should be sent by mail (not by e-mail, for security reasons).

The proposals should, as far as possible, cover various fields of pre-university mathematics and be of varying degrees of difficulty.

The proposals must only be written in English, French, German, Russian or Spanish. The proposals and solutions should be accompanied by their English versions.

The contest element of the IMO 2006 will take place in Ljubljana on July 12 and 13, 2006 (the "Contest"), under the direction of the Chief Invigilator appointed by DMFA Slovenije. On each day of the Contest the examination will start in the morning and last for 4 and a half hours. Each of the two examination papers will consist of three problems.

The problems will be given to each Contestant in his/her own language. On request a Contestant may receive the problems in one other language, provided that the Jury (as defined in 6.1) has approved the relevant translation.

Each Contestant must work independently and submit solutions in his/her own language. The solutions must be written on answer forms provided by DMFA Slovenije. Contestants must write on only one side of each answer form.

The only instruments permitted in the Contest will be writing and drawing instruments, such as rulers and compasses. In particular, books, papers, tables, calculators, protractors, computers and communication devices will not be allowed into the examination room.

The Jury, Observers and any others who have sight of the problems and solutions before the examinations shall do their utmost to ensure that no Contestant has information, direct or indirect, about any proposed problem. They must also ensure that all Contest problems and solutions are kept strictly confidential until after the entire Contest has finished. They will be barred, except for the case of emergency, from having any external communication with Contestants, Deputy Leaders (and accompanying Observers) until the time of the conclusion of the examination. DMFA Slovenije will provide proper assistance in case of an emergency.

The total number of prizes will not exceed half the total number of Contestants. The numbers of first, second and third prizes will be approximately in the ratio 1:2:3.

Special prizes may be awarded for solutions considered outstanding by the Jury. Eventual proposals for such special prizes will be put forward by the Chief Coordinator.

The prizes will be awarded at the Closing Ceremony. Each Contestant, who has not received a first, second or third prize will receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention if he/she has received seven points for the solution of at least one problem.

Each Contestant will receive a Certificate of Participation.

The "Jury" will consist of all Leaders, together with a Chairman. A Leader may be replaced by his/her Deputy Leader in an emergency (subject to the prior approval and consent of the Chairman of the Jury). Members of the IMO Advisory Board who are not already members of the Jury, members of the Problem Selection Committee and the Chief Coordinator (as defined in clause 7 below) may also attend meetings of the Jury as observers. Observers may attend meetings of the Jury only with the permission of the Chairman of the Jury, but will not be entitled to speak or vote. However, they may exceptionally speak at the explicit request of the Chairman of the Jury. Deputy Leaders may attend, as observers, meetings of the Jury held after the Contest.

Only Leaders may vote in the decisions of the Jury and each Leader will have one vote. A motion shall be carried by a simple majority of those voting. In the event of a tie, the Chairman will have a casting vote.

The Jury may appoint sub-committees to consider specific matters.

The meetings of the Jury will be conducted principally in English. The Chairman should request a translation into some of the official languages (French, German, Russian and Spanish) as needed.

Before the Contest the Jury will

• verify that all Contestants comply with the prescribed conditions for participation;
• elect the Contest problems from amongst the submitted proposals on the basis of a preliminary selection made by the Problem Selection Committee appointed by DMFA Slovenije;
• prepare and approve the official versions of the Contest problems in English, French, German, Russian and Spanish;
• approve the translations of the Contest problems into all required languages.

On each day of the Contest, the Jury will consider written questions raised by Contestants during the first half-hour of the Contest and decide on replies.

After the Contest, the Jury will

• receive and approve a report made by the Chief Invigilator on the conduct of the examinations;
• receive a report from the Chief Coordinator on any unresolved disputes which may have arisen during coordination and determine the appropriate scores;
• approve the scores of all Contestants;
• decide winners of first, second and third prizes;
• consider and make decisions on all proposals to award special prizes;
• consider matters raised about future International Mathematical Olympiads.

Any allegation or suspicion of a violation of the Regulations generally shall be reported to the Chairman of the Jury. If he considers there is a prima facie case, he will form a committee to investigate further. The committee will report its findings to the Jury. The Jury will decide whether a violation has occurred and, if it decides that one has, then it will decide what sanction, if any, to apply. Possible sanctions include the disqualification of an individual Contestant or an entire team from the competition. The decision of the Jury will be final.

Each problem will be allocated a score out of a maximum of seven points.

Prior to coordination, Contestants' solutions will be assessed by Leaders and Deputy Leaders in accordance with the marking schemes prepared under the direction of the Chief Coordinator appointed by DMFA Slovenije and discussed and agreed upon at the meeting of the Jury.

Each coordination session will involve two Coordinators provided by DMFA Slovenije and representatives of the relevant country. Two representatives, normally the Leader and Deputy Leader, are permitted to participate actively in any one session. With the approval of the Chief Coordinator, one further representative may be present to observe the coordination process but cannot take any active part in it.

The Leader and the designated Coordinators should agree on the scores for each Contestant. These scores will be recorded on official forms and signed by the Leader and the Coordinators. If the Leader and the Coordinators fail to agree on a score for a Contestant, the matter will first be referred to the head Coordinator for that problem. If there is still no agreement, the matter will be referred to the Chief Coordinator. If the Leader and Chief Coordinator then fail to agree on a score, the Chief Coordinator will report the matter to the Jury with a recommendation as to what the score should be. The Jury will then determine the score.

If, during a coordination session, the designated Coordinators consider that an irregularity may have occurred, they will immediately refer the matter to the Chief Coordinator. Unless he is satisfied that there is no case to answer, he will report the situation to the Chairman of the Jury.

For each problem, solutions by Slovenian Contestants will be coordinated by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the country which submitted the problem, with the assistance of the head Coordinator for that problem if required.

The Leaders, Deputy Leaders and Contestants acknowledge that these Regulations and the documents referred to herein, constitute their entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersede any previous discussions or representations made by or on the behalf of DMFA Slovenije in respect of the IMO 2006.

In these Regulations, "force majeure" shall mean any cause preventing DMFA Slovenije from performing any or all of its obligations which arises from or is attributable to acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond the reasonable control of the party so prevented including without limitation strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving the workforce of the party so prevented or of any other party), act of God, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, earthquake, typhoon, fire, flood, storm, or default of suppliers or sub-contractors.

If DMFA Slovenije is prevented or delayed in the performance of any of its obligations to Leaders, Deputy Leaders and Contestants under these Regulations by force majeure it will have no liability in respect of the performance of such of its obligations as are prevented by the force majeure events during the continuation of such events, and for such time after they cease as is necessary for DMFA Slovenije to recommence its affected operations in order for it to perform its obligations.