What is the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)?

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is an annual programming competition for secondary school students from around the world. It was first held in 1989 in Pravetz, Bulgaria, with just four countries participating, but has since grown in popularity and now attracts teams from over 80 countries. The IOI aims to stimulate interest in computer science and informatics among young people, and to foster friendly international relations and cooperation in the field of informatics.

Each year, the IOI consists of two days of programming tasks that test the students' algorithmic and coding skills. The tasks are designed to be challenging, requiring creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The competition is held in a different country each year and is organized by the host country's ministry of education, with the assistance of a committee appointed by the International Committee of the IOI.

Participation in the IOI is highly prestigious and can be a stepping stone to a career in computer science, mathematics, or related fields. Many past IOI participants have gone on to win other prestigious awards and prizes, including the Turing Award and the Fields Medal.