Opening ceremony of the 38th international olympiad in informatics took place

On August 10, the grand opening ceremony of the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) was held at the CAEx exhibition complex in Tashkent. Uzbekistan is hosting this prestigious international competition for the first time in its history, serving as a clear testament to the country's achievements in digital development. At the core of this historic event is the strong emphasis placed on advancing digital education, IT, and artificial intelligence in recent years, which has driven the rapid growth of the nation's IT ecosystem. Today, for instance, the number of IT Park residents has surpassed 3,700, with over 1,000 of them being companies backed by foreign capital. As a result of these consistent efforts, Uzbekistan is securing high positions in international rankings. Notably, according to a 2026 report by Dealroom.co, the country ranked first globally in the annual growth rate of venture capital investments, achieving a remarkable 540 percent surge. Furthermore, StartupBlink recognized Uzbekistan as one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the world, awarding it the title of "Country of the Year." These milestones are a clear international endorsement of the large-scale reforms implemented to boost digital education, startups, and tech entrepreneurship nationwide. Against the backdrop of this rapid progress, Uzbekistan won the bid to host IOI 2026 back in 2023. Welcoming the world's most talented young programmers to the homeland of the great scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi who gave his name to the concept of the algorithm carries profound historical and symbolic significance. This year’s Olympiad also stands out for its unprecedented scale, with 386 students from more than 97 countries registered to compete. Including delegations, international committee representatives, guests, and observers, the total number of attendees exceeds 900, setting a new record in IOI history for participating nations. As one of the most prestigious competitive programming events for high school students globally, the IOI challenges participants to solve complex algorithmic problems that test their speed and logical thinking. At the grand opening ceremony, speakers included Sherzod Shermatov Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tan Sun Teck President of the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and Gennady Korotkevich a multi-time world champion in competitive programming. They warmly congratulated the participants on this prestigious international event the first of its kind in Uzbekistan's history and wished the young talents from around the world outstanding results and great success in the Olympiad. They congratulated the attendees on this historic event and wished the young programmers success. As the host nation, Uzbekistan is dedicated to holding the Olympiad at the highest standard, placing special emphasis on security, transportation, accommodation, catering, technical infrastructure, and cultural programs. Over the next eight days, Tashkent will serve as a dynamic hub for collaboration among young programmers, mentors, and international experts. Ultimately, IOI 2026 is more than just a prestigious competition. It serves as a vital platform to showcase Uzbekistan’s technological and educational potential on the global stage, inspire youth to pursue programming and STEM fields, and broaden international cooperation.