In August, Tashkent will host the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) – one of the largest global competitive programming competitions for schoolchildren. The tournament will bring together the strongest participants from various countries.

Russia will be represented at the competition by four schoolchildren from Moscow and St. Petersburg. They shared their preparation experience and explained how the path from the first steps in programming to the level of international Olympiads is built.

According to them, an important stage is an early introduction to code and assessing interest in programming, as the Olympiad level requires significant effort and regular preparation. The role of the environment is particularly emphasized: classes in specialized clubs and communication with other participants help maintain the pace of learning. Among such venues, Yandex's competitive programming club is mentioned, where some members of the national team train.

Participants also note the need for early participation in competitions, systematic work on mistakes, and gradual skill development. The ability to concentrate, work under stress, and solve non-standard problems within a limited time are of significant importance.

They also mentioned that a personal preparation strategy before tournaments, including habits and rituals, plays an important role. One participant jokingly noted that the team has its own “secret method for improving results,” but its effectiveness is more informal in nature.