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WHAT
HAPPENED...
I,
Ozimar Pereira, brazilian coordinator of the 3rd International
Junior Science Olympiad (3rd IJSO), am very sad with the
ending that such a very important event for the country
had. Unfortunatelly, due to many problems, I was forced
to cancel the ending cerimony which was going to happen
11th December 2006 at night, in São Paulo.
I'm
very sad and ask for apologize to all the 180 students and
30 countries of the world that have been here in order to
participate of this scientific olympiad. They showed that
young people do have interest in science and are capable
of staying ten days away from their countries taking Biology,
Physics and Chemistry examinations. That shows dedication
and love to science.
To
organize such a big event, gathering more than 300 people,
among them students, teachers, guides and staff, is not
an easy task. Its cost is extremelly high: almost 600,000
USD. Therefore, it is not possible to do it alone. I had
to count on the support of precious partners such as the
Universidade Paulista (Unip), São Paulo State University
(USP), Ministery of Education, Brazilian Institute for Tourism
(Embratur) and the Ministery of Foreign Relations, among
other entities, that honored what they promised. However,
this was not enough. It was also necessary a considerable
financial suport. Two years ago, I got in touch with assessors
to the President of the Republic. I have got a verbal promise
that the government would help with $150,000, making the
event possible, specially for hotels and food.
But,
unfortunatelly, that did not happen. Last setember, a political
scandal interrupted all communication with president´s
cabinet. After that, I could not contact the government
anymore. Time passed by and the money, expected for the
payment of the hotels and meals, did not appear. Monday,
11th December, just some hours before the cerimony, I was
obligated to cancel it. I deeply lament what happened.
I was betrayed by my government,
which couldn´t see the importance of a kind of competition.
I was betrayed by my colleagues
in the Executive Committee, nominally prof. Masno Ginting
and prof. Sang Chun Lee, who didn´t helped me anyway.
I
didn´t receive any information (numbers, costs, check-lists,
orientations) about IJSO 2004 e 2005. Instead of helping
me in the most difficult moments, when I was completly alone,
these people instigated other countries against me. Instead
of hands, I received knives and stones!
Brazil
is a rich country. Brazil doesn´t need money from
Indonesia, South Korea or other country, but I needed political
support. Simple letters to the brazilian government would
have generated the needed support. But I didn´t receive
anyone.
My only mistake was to accept
to organize IJSO2006!
Now, a week after the ending
of IJSO 2006, I have began to receive messages from students
and leaders from many countries. The sad (and unacceptable)
part of IJSO 2006 is being forgoten and the people are thinking
about the new friends, the good moments, the challenge of
the exams, the experience achieved and the results obtained.
Only me, only Brazil, accepted
to organize IJSO 2006! And IJSO 2006 happened! Only Brazil,
only me, had courage to do that.
I apologize again to the students
and leaders who believed in me and come to São Paulo.
I tried to do the best.
Sincerelly,
Ozimar Pereira Chairman of
the 3rd International Junior Science Olympiad
São Paulo, 19th December,
2006
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