International Mathematical Olympiad History

About International Mathematical Olympiad 

IMO is one of the most prestigious mathematical competitions in the world, every year it helps million students to improve their math skills. 

The first International Mathematical Olympiad was held in Romania in 1959. Since that year every year it held except 1980 due  to internal strife in Mongolia. Initially established for Eastern European member countries of the Warsaw Pact within the USSR's sphere of influence, the IMOs eventually saw participation from other nations as well. Due to its Eastern European origins. 

Over 100 countries take part, each sending a team of up to six students, accompanied by a team leader, a deputy leader, and observers.

Content of International Mathematical Olympiad 

The content ranges  of IMO is highly challenging algebra and pre-calculus problems, many topics  are not  covered in high school or even university curricula, such as projective and complex geometry, functional equations, combinatorics, and advanced number theory, which demands extensive knowledge of various theorems. While calculus is permitted in solutions, it is never a necessity, adhering to the principle that anyone with a fundamental understanding of mathematics should be able to comprehend the problems, even if solving them requires much deeper knowledge. Advocates of this principle argue that it promotes universality and encourages the creation of elegant, deceptively simple problems that nonetheless require significant ingenuity to solve fully.

Format of International Mathematical Olympiad 

IMO consist 6 problems completions held for 2 days each day contestants solve 3 problems. Each day, contestants have four and a half hours to solve three problems. Each problem is worth 7 points, making the maximum possible score 42 points. The use of calculators is prohibited.

Topics in IMO 

Geometry

Number theory 

Algebra

Combinatorics. 

Calculas 

Algebraic inequalities

Complex numbers 

Construction

Where has the IMO been, and where is it going?

1959 Romania

1960 Romania

1961 Hungary

1962 Czechoslovakia

1963 Poland

1964 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1965 German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

1966 Bulgaria

1967 Yugoslavia

1968 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1969 Romania

1970 Hungary

1971 Czechoslovakia

1972 Poland

1973 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1974 German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

1975 Bulgaria

1976 Austria

1977 Yugoslavia

1978 Romania

1979 United Kingdom

1980 no IMO

1981 United States of America

1982 Hungary

1983 France

1984 Czechoslovakia

1985 Finland

1986 Poland

1987 Cuba

1988 Australia

1989 Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

1990 People’s Republic of China

1991 Sweden

1992 Russian Federation

1993 Turkey

1994 Hong Kong

1995 Canada

1996 India

1997 Argentina

1998 Taiwan

1999 Romania

2000 Republic of Korea (South Korea)

2001 United States of America

2002 United Kingdom

2003 Japan

2004 Greece

2005 Mexico

2006 Slovenia

2007 Vietnam

2008 Spain

2009 Germany

2010 Kazakhstan

2011 The Netherlands

2012 Argentina

2013 Colombia

2014 South Africa

2015 Thailand

2016 Hong Kong

2017 Brazil

2018 Romania

2019 United Kingdom

2020 Russian Federation

2021 Russian Federation

2022 Norway

2023 Japan

2024 United Kingdom

2025 Australia

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