IMO 2010: Joint training in Astana
Friday, July 2, 2010 5:59After ~30 hours of travel the majority of the team arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan on the evening of Monday 28th June, joining the Dutch team there for a week-long training camp. Our numbers were finally completed by Ilya’s arrival from Germany this morning. Ilya’s arrival was highly anticipated, as his Russian has greatly increased our ability to communicate with those around us!
Our first two days in Astana passed in mathematics from breakfast to bed, with the mornings, afternoons and evenings occupied with problem sessions, lectures and the first of three mock IMOs. Today we took a break, and explored Astana on foot, admiring its many statues, fountains and domes. From tomorrow it is back to mathematics, with Johan, Quintijn (NLD) and Chris (NZL) flying to Almaty for the IMO jury meetings, and the teams continuing their training with the second mock IMO.
The IMO starts for the teams on the 5th, with the opening ceremony taking place on the 6th and the contest on the 7th and 8th. Watch this space!
Madelon and Merlijn (NLD) working with Stephen (NZL) during joint training in Astana
New Zealand and Netherlands team members discussing the solution to a problem during what was supposed to be a break.
The Otany statue, near our hotel.
(From left) Robert, Malcolm and Edward concentrating during Mock IMO 1.
Guus (NLD) making a move in an outdoor chess game during our excursion.
Lunch, excursion day. The wait was overly long...
Making our way back to the hotel, at the end of our excursion.
Evening training, excursion day. The Dutch team went to dinner at their embassy, and we went to the nearby Otany statue for a spot of combinatorics.
Qing says:
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Nice to see these beautiful pictures from Astana. Very best wishes to NZ Team success
Jieying says:
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Good luck to NZ team!
Marleen van Beek says:
July 4th, 2010 at 2:27 am
Best wishes to the NZ team and also to the Dutch team. I am the mother of David, member of the Dutch teanm. Please send him my best wishes. It is great te see your blog,. thank you! Marleen
Lesley Tuffley says:
July 6th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Great to see photographs of a city I know nothing about. It looks spacious and beautiful, and what fantastic chessmen! Good that the NZ team and the Netherlands team are able to train together again this year. Very best wishes to both.
Karllie Clifton says:
July 9th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Hope all is going well for the NZ team. Love the photos. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures Edward. Ms Clifton (Edwards Dean at HIllcrest HIgh)