No. 3 Tuesday, July 4, 2006

First Round of the Competition

First day of the competition is over. Contestants were on time and anxious to start solving problems. Ten minutes after 10 a.m. each contestant received a copy of Round 1 tasks in English and also in his native language. During the first hour of the competition session, contestants were allowed to send their questions regarding the problems to the Scientific Committee in the native language and during the entire contest in English. Five hours later, contestants finished their work and went to lunch. At the same time Evaluation Committee finished the evaluation

process. Points are added and each competitor knows his own result. As journalists we were really curious to find out the score but since curiosity killed the cat and the Scientific Committee is so strict we didn't find out a thing. Sorry:) Martin Křivánek from Czech Republic: Would you agree that the tasks were pretty difficult?

I think they were normal but I was more concentrated than usually, I really don't know why. How long did you prepare for this competition?

I started preparing about one month ago but not too intensive. What are your expectations about results today?

I wouldn't like to be the last one. I have only solved two tasks. In your opinion, was everything ok regarding the technical part of the organization?

Everything was ok. Ján Mikuláš from Slovakia:

What would you say about the difficulty of the tasks? They were hard. Did you have enough time?

Yes, last ten minutes I even had a rest. What sort of results are you expecting?

I think I will have half of the full score. What is your opinion about the technical part of the organization?

I think there were some problems during the practice competition, they weren’t big. Today, everything was great.

Goran Žužić from Croatia: What were the tasks like? Judging by the opinions of the others, tasks were very hard. As far as I heard nobody had all the tasks solved, maybe not even close. We are waiting for the results so we'll see, I think I've done well, if everything goes according to the plan I think it will be all right.

Igor Čanadi from Croatia: I haven't done very well today. What about the organization? Everything was great and there was plenty of food, we even had some leftovers. Is there anything in particular? I like the new evaluation system. The design is very good.

Newsletter

CEOI 2006 GUESTS VISITED the BRIJUNI ISLANDS

While our contestants were sweating in front of their computers, we took the "team" of guests for an excursion. It was a trip to the Brijuni National Park.

Brijuni are a group of islands that lies in the vicinity of Pula. First we came to a small fisherman town called Fažana where we boarded on a boat, and very soon came to the Big Brijun, the biggest island of Brijuni.

There are no inhabitants on this island except the wild animals from the safari park. We saw holy Indian cows, Shetland ponies, African antelopes, zebras, rabbits (hmm, how wild is that?), Istrian oxen called "boškarin"…

The island has traditionally been a gathering place for presidents, various world statesmen and celebrities; from Elizabeth Taylor, Indira Ghandi, Queen Elizabeth II to Naomi Campbell, Pavarotti and John Malkovich. There is also a multitude of remnants of Roman life at this area (villas, temples...) and an olive tree, which dates from that period (it is 1700 years old!!). It seems that it was a bit too much history for all of us, tired but pleased we returned to Vrsar…

Gyula Horváth Hungarian Team Leader

Mr. Horváth, could you tell us something about the members of your team and are you satisfied with your contestants?

Our team is a younger team because that team is not intended to be the IOI team. Younger students participate on the CEOI and the older ones on the IOI.

What was this competition round like for your team?

Generally, the CEOI is very high at the scientific level, it is respected all over the world so this competition was also at a very high level and the tasks are really hard to solve but we'll see how everything will go the second day.

Did your team find the tasks hard, were they similar to the preparations that you have made with

them?

Well, some were, but we have a special training for them. The top twenty from the National Olympiad are invited to the selection competition which is organized in seven rounds combined with some training. After selecting the team for the CEOI and the IOI, we have a training camp for them.

And how do you feel in Croatia, do you like it here?

Oh yes, it's wonderful, Mediterranean atmosphere and the City of Vrsar as well and we are enjoying our stay here.

Thank you for the interview.

Newsletter No.3

Editors Vlasta Šeparović

Vesna Mesar Dinka Matić Nina Rapo

Vlatka Marijanović Tamara Vurin Aron Bohr

Lim Fjord – Rovinj – Red Island

Our tour along the Lim Fjord will start in Vrsar on board of the «DUPIN». We will stop in Rovinj and spend about one hour there so you will be able to experience the sightseeing delights of the town. There is one more thing to see, the Red Island. You will also enjoy lunch on board. Bellow is some interesting information about the places we will visit on our excursion. Lim Fjord

Lim Fjord is one of the most beautiful natural resources of the Istrian peninsula. The bay surroundings are very interesting, the plant covering is lush and diverse, reaching from evergreen to deciduous trees, where various wild animals live, such as boars, fox, badgers, deer and birds like hawks, buzzards, owls. Here is located Romualdo's cave, where church ceremonies were held during the 11th century and later. Legend has it that Romualdo was a priest who lived the life of a hermit. Lim Fjord has the protected landscape status.

Rovinj

Rovinj is a beautiful, picturesque small town situated on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula. Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, in search of unique places for his novels, chose Rovinj as a setting for some chapters of his novel "Mathias Sandorf". This ancient settlement (3rd century) was first mentioned by Anonymous of Ravenna at the beginning of the 8th century. Just like in the past, its exuberant beauty always attracts a traveller. Red Island

Certainly one of the most beautiful islands of Rovinj's archipelago and by all means one of the biggest is Red Island. It is made up of two little islands, St. Andrew and Maskin. Currently over 180 different kinds of plants are growing successfully on the island. Unfortunately, in mid June 2002, the island was hit by a rough storm and a large part of the hundred year old pines and other trees was devastated so the natural beauty of St. Andrew, and especially that of Maskin, is damaged. Currently the island's plant covering is being improved.