Wen-Hsien SUN
Chairman, the Executive Board of
International Mathematics Competition
President, Chiu Chang Mathematics
Education Foundation
The first time I led the Taiwanese students
to participate in international mathematics
competitions, a dream was born in me to
organize an international mathematics
competition in Taiwan.
I kept that dream alive, and so the same
dream comes true today
Our honored guests, contestants and delegates of
the participating countries, friends, ladies and
gentlemen: Welcome to the 2012 Taiwan
International Mathematics Competition (TAIMC).
Today, the best young mathematicians from 28
countries find their roads to Taiwan and as such I
am very pleased to meet all of you with special
mention to the team
officials and above
all the participants of
both key stage II and
key stage III.
Your presence in this year’s international
mathematics competitions tells one thing and that is
the importance of mathematics cannot be argued.
As our world advances in space technologies,
electronic communications, financial transactions,
biochemistry, and so on, deep knowledge of
mathematics becomes
more essential.
It is only through
transfusion of
mathematics that these
diverse fields can be
taken to new heights.
With the recognition of the importance of
mathematics comes the understanding that
interest in the subject and familiarization with
mathematical thinking must be nurtured at the
earliest possible age.
Hence many activities in
mathematics have been
organized, mathematics
competition being one in
this wide range.
The Taiwan International Mathematics Competition
is not only a platform for students from different
countries to compete. Unlike other mathematics
competitions which depend solely on paper and pen,
we have designed team contests which require
group effort, discussion and cooperation among
team members to solve the problems. This event
also provides an opportunity for you to meet people
from different nations, cultures, religions and ways
of life. It broadens your international perspective
and to learn to tolerate and understand, so as to
promote peace in the world.
In the TAIMC this year, we have also arranged a
series of talks in mathematics, forum in
mathematics education and a World Conference on
the Mathematically Gifted Students – the Role of
Educators and Parents.
We have invited government officials and
specialists from different countries to report at the
forum on their philosophies, policies and practices
on education for the gifted.
We have also invited Professor Andy Liu from
Canada to give a talk on a specific topic in
mathematics.
We invite parents of mathematically gifted
students from various countries to participate in
the forum to explore ways of nurturing and
teaching the mathematically gifted and to share
experiences and opinions.
To enable you to appreciate the beauty and joy of
mathematics, we have organized interesting
mathematical activities like the Puzzles Challenge.
Our warmth is comparable to the temperature of
Taipei.
We sincerely invite you to study the culture and life
of Taiwan and to understand the freedom and
democracy enjoyed by us in this economically
prosperous society in addition to seeing the
beautiful scenery.
Ladies, Gentlemen and Contestants:
Let us embrace mathematics happily, enjoy
mathematics and the competition! And always
remember, make Taiwan your home away
from home.
Thank you.