Statement

Olympiads in mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, history, geography and other subjects have been non-profit activities aimed at primary and secondary school students for decades. All competitions of this type take place with the support of a number of enthusiasts working at our higher education institutions. The winners of these Olympiads often very successfully represent the Czech Republic at similar international competitions.

The unfortunate statement of the Czech Olympic Committee, which may give the impression that the expert Olympiads for students will no longer be able to be called the Olympiads, has therefore outraged the majority of the academic and scientific community.

As the Czech Rectors Conference, we expect support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, because the Olympiads in various professional or scientific disciplines inspire and develop students, contribute significantly to interest in the relevant field and to scientific work, help institutions to find and support talents in many areas. These are exactly the effects that our society needs in order for the Czech Republic to change more quickly from an "assembly plant" to a "think tank".

So, let's be reasonable, let the expert Olympiads have their name and try to solve the real problems of our society!

Prague, 9 August 2024