Astronomy students fail to join Olympiad due to fuel price hikes

Six countries have failed to send student delegates to participate in the 2nd International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Bandung due to rising fuel prices, an official says.

"The six countries have notified us through emails and phones. We accept their excuse. Maybe the rising crude oil prices have jacked up plane tickets to get here," said IOAA secretary-general Chatief Kunjaya.

The countries are Cuba, Mexico, Czech Republic, the Philippines, Portugal and Laos.

Chatief said the olympiad organizers could not afford to provide transportation and accommodation for the participants and that all participating countries had agreed that funding would come from their own pockets.

At least 95 students of junior and high school level from 24 countries will compete in the olympiad to be held over nine days starting Wednesday. The formal opening ceremony will be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Thursday.

"The olympiad will help relations among the countries. Science needs greater collaboration to make a better world," IOAA president Boonraksar Soonthornthum said.

Soonthornthum predicts that the olympiad will be highly competitive because the four best teams from 1st IOAA in Thailand last year are participating again. The four teams come from Thailand, China, India and Indonesia. (***)