The IMO faces calls to suspend Israel, while escaping Gaza and the West Bank to attend this year’s event in Australia seems a distant dream for Palestinian hopefuls
For six Palestinian teenagers, it could be a “life-changing opportunity”.
The youngsters have been selected for the International Mathematics Olympiad, to be held on Australia’s Sunshine Coast in July, but it is unclear whether they will be able to leave Gaza and the West Bank to take part.
At the same time the IMO faces calls to suspend Israel’s membership and allow its students to compete solely as private entrants.
National teams around the world are in training camps for the trip to Australia, being coached by academics as they prepare to compete for medals – and the ticket such prizes offer to just about any university in the world.
