Posted on 12/03/19
Jerusalem, Israel - Dec. 3, 2019 - President Reuven Rivlin today, Tuesday, December 3/ 5 Kislev, welcomed representatives of the Israeli delegations to the International Physics, Chemistry, Mathematical and Informatics Olympiads. Minister of Education Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Director General of the Ministry of Education Shmuel Abuav and writer Meir Shalev also participated in the event.
President Rivlin said to the medal-winning finalists from the July 7-15, 2019 international competition held in Tel Aviv, “You talented youth are the face of the State of Israel, embodying the enormous potential we have in fields that can change the world...Did you know your wisdom compares to long-distance runners? As for the best Olympic athletes, special features are required to get to the gold - perseverance, determination, willpower and talent and love of subject or sport."
The president spoke with each student, heard which school or college he attends, the area in which he specializes, and of his hobbies, congratulating them warmly.
Education Minister Rav Peretz also spoke at the meeting, "I say to you: Our ambitions as elected officials are to the boys and girls, members of the periphery and the center, all sectors and populations. Scientific discoveries and technological developments originating from our country now reverberate around the world, in medicine, computers, water, biology, and agriculture, almost every scientific field. You are the scientists of the future and our role is to continue to provide you with the tools for success because your contribution to the state is great. Each of you is a champion and inspiring. Even those who have not yet attained it are expected to lift his head proudly and look forward to the great future awaits him."
Gold medal winner Ilya expressed to BJL the value of the Olympiad experience:
The Israeli science teams have been trained as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center. Training takes place at Israel’s leading universities in the school year leading up to the International Olympiads, which are held in the summer in different countries across the world.
Eli Fried Director-General of the Future Scientists Center:
