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XI International Astronomy Olympiad
Bombay (Mumbai), India, November 10-19, 2006.

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Short information

States-participants There were 16 teams participated in the X IAO:
Armenia Brazil Bulgaria China India Indonesia Iran Kazakhstan Korea Lithuania Moscow Land (ind.) Romania Russia Serbia Sweden Thailand	Common photo of participants (click to enlarge the photo)
Observers from Bangladesh, Croatia and Czechia visited the Olympiad.

The 11^th International Astronomy Olympiad has been held successfully in Bombay (Mumbai) on November 10-19, 2006. The duration of the Olympiad was 10 days, it is one day longer than usualy. Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education (HBCSE) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) made all arrangements for local hospitality to all participants (contestants, team leaders and observers). They were accommodated in a hostel close to HBCSE (TIFR) in Bombay (Mumbai): the residential campus of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

The International Astronomy Olympiad has been held in Europe and Caucasus for nine times, the X IAO visited East Asia, and now it is the first time IAO coming to South Asia.

The Opening Ceremomy of the XII IAO took place in Nehru Science Centre (Worli). At the culmination moment Dr. Madhavan Nair (Chairman ISRO) has lighted a traditional Indian lamp to mark the inauguration of the XI IAO. The cultural programme of the Ceremony was presented by a well-known group "Sanskriti" from the city Bombay. It brought out India's magnificent diversity through a variety of colourful and exuberant folk dances from different parts of the country.

During the Olympiad the Local Organising Committee arranged excursions to GMRT, IUCAA, Pune city, Bombay city, Nehru Planetarium, to Elephanta caves, museums. At the day of closing ceremony participants visited facilities of TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research).

Following the educating style of the International Astronomy Olympiad the Organizers invited famous scientists to give lectures for the participants. There were total 6 lectures during all programme of the Olympiad.

On November 18, at the conclusion of all the rounds the results being available, the Jury Board members have a meeting to look at the overall performance of all the students without knowing their names or nationalities (the so called "blind minutes"). As the usual procedure at this meeting, they decided on the cut off level for the I Diploma, II Diploma, III Diploma (corresponding to the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals) and Diploma of Participation. Here is this decision. But, as per convention, the names should not be announced till the Closing Ceremony.

The Closing Ceremomy took place on November 18 in Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba). Cultural programme of the Closing Ceremony was presented by Classical Indian Dance (group "Odissi").

Thirteen students won the first prizes in the Olympiad, including Hye Soo Lee, Korea (juniors) and Singh Udbhav Kumar, India (seniors) reached the best results.

The whole list of Winners and prizewinners of the Olympiad

The Web-page of the XI Olympiad before its organisation (information for possible participants)

Schedule of the Olympiad:

• Thursday, November 9 - Arriving of some teams to Bombay
• Friday, November 10 - Day of arrival
• Saturday, November 11 - Day of opening ceremony
• Sunday, November 12 - Day of the theoretical round
• Monday, November 13 - Day of excursion to GMRT and the observational round
• Tuesday, November 14 - Day of excursions in Pune
• Wednesday, November 15 - Day of excursions
• Thursday, November 16 - Day of the practical round
• Friday, November 17 - Rest day
• Saturday, November 18 - Day of closing ceremony
• Sunday, November 19 - Day of teams departure
• Monday, November 20 - Departure of some teams

Committees of the XI IAO

The Olympic Advisory Committee