The opening ceremony of the 2014 International Chemistry Olympiad was organized on Monday at My Dinh Stadium in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi with the attendance of 1,500 participants.  

The annual Olympiad, which is in its 46th year, has attracted more than 550 teachers and students from 77 countries and territories around the world.

The event is a competition for high school students under 20 from around the world with the aim of promoting international contacts in chemistry.

It has been organized every year since 1968 (except 1971) in one of the participating countries by their respective education ministries or an appropriate institution of the organizing country.

According to Pham Vu Luan, Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training, hosting the intellectual playground offers Vietnam chances to encourage local youths’ spirit of studying in general and learning about chemistry in particular.

The country has mobilized more than 400 people, including experts, teachers, and volunteers for the academic event.

As scheduled, contestants will attend a theory round on July 23 at the Hanoi National University of Education and a practice round two days later at My Dinh Stadium.

Vietnam has sent contestants to the chemistry competition since 1996 and always won high awards.

In 2013, the Vietnamese delegation attending the International Chemistry Olympiad in Russia won one golden medal and three silvers.

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