ID :
45916
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 19:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45916
The shortlink copeid
Math union delegation to arrive in S. Korea next week
SEOUL, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) -- A delegation of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) will visit Seoul next week to check the country's preparation and infrastructure for hosting the 2014 Math Olympics, local organizers for the event said Monday.
The Korean Mathematical Society (KMS) said the mission -- led by IMU President
Laszlo Lovasz, Secretary Martin Groetschel and Vice President Ma Zhiming -- will
inspect facilities, meet government officials and hold talks with local
mathematicians from Monday through Thursday.
"They will see if South Korea has the capability to host the International
Congress of Mathematicians and gauge the level of government, public and business
support for the event," said a KMS official.
He added that the Lovasz and other members of the fact-finding inspection team
will meet with Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and the Seoul mayor, view the COEX
convention center and meet with executives of Samsung Electronics Co., which is
expected to support the gathering.
The congress, held once every four years, is attended by an average of 4,000
mathematicians from 100 countries and is recognized as the Olympics of math. It
is also famous for handing out the Fields Medal, often referred to as the Nobel
Prize of mathematics.
South Korea submitted its bid last December and is competing with Brazil and
Canada to win the coveted right to host the gathering, which could help boost
local interest in a field critical for sustained scientific and economic growth.
The country currently ranks 12th in the world in terms of mathematical papers
published.
To win the event, Seoul has pledged to pay for the airfare, accommodations and
other necessary expenses of 1,000 mathematicians from developing economies around
the world, meanwhile stressing that hosting the event could help inter-Korean
relations.
Seoul said it is willing to allow North Korea to host some of the 60 "satellite"
sessions planned.
The IMU, made up of 68 member countries, is expected to determine the host city
for the 2014 event in late April, with the official announcement to be made in
August 2010.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
The Korean Mathematical Society (KMS) said the mission -- led by IMU President
Laszlo Lovasz, Secretary Martin Groetschel and Vice President Ma Zhiming -- will
inspect facilities, meet government officials and hold talks with local
mathematicians from Monday through Thursday.
"They will see if South Korea has the capability to host the International
Congress of Mathematicians and gauge the level of government, public and business
support for the event," said a KMS official.
He added that the Lovasz and other members of the fact-finding inspection team
will meet with Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and the Seoul mayor, view the COEX
convention center and meet with executives of Samsung Electronics Co., which is
expected to support the gathering.
The congress, held once every four years, is attended by an average of 4,000
mathematicians from 100 countries and is recognized as the Olympics of math. It
is also famous for handing out the Fields Medal, often referred to as the Nobel
Prize of mathematics.
South Korea submitted its bid last December and is competing with Brazil and
Canada to win the coveted right to host the gathering, which could help boost
local interest in a field critical for sustained scientific and economic growth.
The country currently ranks 12th in the world in terms of mathematical papers
published.
To win the event, Seoul has pledged to pay for the airfare, accommodations and
other necessary expenses of 1,000 mathematicians from developing economies around
the world, meanwhile stressing that hosting the event could help inter-Korean
relations.
Seoul said it is willing to allow North Korea to host some of the 60 "satellite"
sessions planned.
The IMU, made up of 68 member countries, is expected to determine the host city
for the 2014 event in late April, with the official announcement to be made in
August 2010.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
