Report from the Logical Olympiad Finals 2009
I think to myself: “It’s November, it’s cold, and it’s dark”, while forcing myself to get up from the bed. Maybe the other volunteers feel just like me this morning – volunteers who offered their help at the finals. Altogether, there are almost 40 of us. At 7:30, we meet in front of the Parliament building. It’s about an hour later than I’d like, but there’s no helping it – we won’t be let in any sooner. Fortunately, there are enough of us who helped during the last year’s finals, and who therefore know their way around.
Jitka Markesová takes charge of the registration desk, and within a few moments, the lists of competitors and name tags are ready to go. Which is good, as although the competition was only scheduled to start at 10:30, the first competitors start arriving shortly after eight. I’m a bit worried about their getting bored, but Míša Kubaníková is taking good care of them, having taken some good advice from Honza Herrmann, and prepared puzzles and Tetris for them. Over the course of the day, it would turn out that this game can refresh many a tired organizer...
In the meantime, the preparations are close to completion in the foyer and in the plenary hall – placing the name tags on the tables, equipment checks, assembling an information desk, presenting the brand new Mensa posters and partner logos, printing out several more spare programmes (Vladimír Vančický is capable not only of remaining in control of all incoming requests, but even of carrying them all out almost simultaneously). All of that is being continuously documented by the TKMR unit (Tomáš Kubeš and Miloslav Ryba), assisted by Jiřinka Vlková.
Shortly after ten, the foyer is buzzing, and I am growing slightly nervous, as the competitors from Ostrava have not arrived yet. I notice Dalibor Hrabec, and feel relief that now, they are certainly here, only to find out a few seconds later that he came by car on his own. Fortunately, another minute later, Hanka Studenská calls me with the information that they are just entering the building …
Another shock is caused by the crowd of parents requesting access to the gallery of the plenary hall. No explanations about the previously advised limited capacity of the gallery seem to be helping. Many thanks to our stout volunteers and both receptionists of Parliament, who stood their ground against the eager parents. Česťa Kalus is, in the meantime, overseeing the activities in the gallery. Surprisingly, it is not the children who have to be well looked after, it is the parents!
At half past ten, we can begin. The competitors are welcomed by Tomáš Blumenstein and Marek Vašut, who catches everyone off guard right in the beginning with a trick question. A later “small and non-representative poll” reveals that Jirka Erbs was the only one to know the answer. But, as knowing the answer required knowledge of Latin, politics, and geography, I am actually not all that surprised. Subsequently, Petr Tluchor, MP, the patron of the competition, and František Orság, the representative of OKD Foundation, the general partner of the competition, added their welcomes to those of the previous speakers. And then it begins... The sheets of papers with logical puzzles are laid on the benches, and 40 minutes of silence follows.
The first part is followed by tasks projected on the screen, where competitors are putting pictures together and facing other tasks testing the combination skills or keenness of the eye and memory, all overseen by the Chairman of the jury, Honza Herrmann. Then comes a great lunch and a discussion with Marek Vašut, followed by the “performance” A Live Zebra – a competition based on revealing relationships. One more set of tasks, followed by half an hour during which the points acquired in the last part are added to the provisional results, sums are being double-checked, small presents and diplomas are handed over to all participants of the finals, prizes for the winners are being prepared, competitors are talking about their impressions, and – mainly – everyone is eagerly awaiting the results.
The prizes are presented by the partners of the competition, including Ms. Týřová, the director of the OKD Foundation, who accepted our invitation, despite being soon after an operation and needing crutches to get around. The winners of the primary school category are announced first, secondary school students immediately thereafter, the winners are interviewed, and photos taken. Jakub Valtar from the Jirásek Grammar School in Náchod admits with modesty that he did not expect the victory. The winner in the younger category, Roman Walica, says that he has come all the way from Vendryně near Frýdek-Místek. When I ask when he got up, he says “I had to get up at three AM, but I am really happy to be here!” I remember my sleepy morning and blush a bit. One more “Thank you” to all who participated in organizing the Logical Olympiad 2009, and Tomáš Blumenstein announces the next one, the Logical Olympiad 2010.
Related topics
30.11.2009
Logical Olympiad 2009 - finals 30.11.2009 |
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