Arrival and Departure

On August 2, 2003, our reception staff will be ready at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport to pick up representatives from each nation and take all visitors by special coaches to their respective lodgings. The CKS Airport is our largest international airport and the key point of entry into and departure from Taiwan . All the world's major airlines have direct flights to Taipei, while others enter via Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore. It is about a forty-minute drive from the airport to Taipei city.

On the 11st of August , the reception staff will again have special coaches ready to take delegates to the Chiang Kai-Shek Airport for departure.

Accommodation

All delegates, observers, and visitors will be lodged at four- or five-star hotels. The Organizing Committee will provide special coaches to transport competing delegates to the Olympiad venues or to other planned activities.

Meals

It's often said that there is no finer place in the world to eat Chinese food than Taipei . In your home country you have probably eaten a type of Chinese cooking adapted to local tastes. But even if you have had authentic Chinese food, Taipei will amaze you with its rich variety of cooking styles. Continental China ' s diverse geographical regions each developed a distinctive cuisine . As people from throughout the mainland to Taiwan in the late 1940s , they brought their taste preferences , cooking abilities , and traditions with them, and many started regional restaurants . This gives Taiwan, and especially Taipei, the unique ability to offer diners the entire range of Chinese cuisine. We must remind all delegates and distinguished guests to let us know in advance of any special food requirements such as vegetarian,diabetes diets or those that must be free of salt , beef , pork, or fowl.Please make your needs known to the organizer in advance.

Religion

Taiwan practices freedom of religion , generously accepting foreign religious ideas while honoring traditional beliefs : even within the same family , it is common for different faiths to exist . As a result , Taipei has welcomed the development of many different religions.

Traditional Chinese religions include Buddhism, Taoism, and folk beliefs . Taoism is indigenous to China , while Buddhism was intro- duced from India . Taoists and Buddhists originally worshipped separately in Taiwan,but during the period of Japanese occupation ( 1895 - 1945 ) Taoists were singled out forsevere persecution and began worshipping their deities secretly in Buddhist temples.

By the time Taiwan was returned to Chinese administration at the end of World War , the two religions had blended together; while a few temples today are purely Buddhist,most Taiwanese continue worshipping a variety of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk deities in a single temple. Many of thesedeities once lived as mortals and were given divine status because of their special virtues or contributions . One prominent example of this is Kuan Kung, who was a famous general during the Three Kingdoms period more than 1,700 years ago and is now revered as the God of War. The most famous example, however, is Confucius, who lived 2,500 years ago and was first enshrined by Emperor Yuan of the Western Han, who reigned 48-33 B.C. The Sage is honored today in many temples throughout Taiwan.

Medical Insurance

There is a small clinic on the main campus of National Taiwan Normal University that provides medical need for minor emergencies, and there are two first - rate major hospitals within ten minutes' drive of the competition site. Organizers of the Olympiad are not responsible for medical expenses of delegates , observers , or visitors . It is important that each delegation should be adequately insured before coming to Taiwan.

Before and After the Competitions

Should any team arrive early and wish to spend some extra time sightseeing,

there are convenient buses and the Mass Rapid Transit system for all destinations within the city. In the immediate environs there are Yangmingshan National Park on the beautiful Mount Yangming which also boasts wonderful sulfur hot spring facilities, the National Palace Museum with its unrivalled treasures spanning centuries, and the Ching Dynasty temple, Lung-shan-ssu, with its traditional wood and stone-carving as well as the bustling market life around it. To sample various regional tastes the legendary night- markets are sure to provide a memorable experience.

After the Olympiad, some delegations may wish to have a tour of Taiwan. Although Taiwan is an island , it offers vastly different scenery from north to south and at different heights above sea level . One can view the endless ocean from the northern coastal highway,the mysterious stone-groups at Yehliu where over the centuries crashing waves and ceaseless winds have caused phantasmagoric erosions in the rocks . The east coast is full of beautiful cliffs and lookouts , and the legendary Taroko Gorge, entirely made of green marble, provides a stunning passage . In the center there is Alishan mountain, home of the thousand-year-old sacred woods, In the south, Kenting National Park with beautiful tropical fishes and sea-views is entirely paved with risen coral and is host to the complex ecology of a tropical forest.

Climate

Taipei has a subtropical climate, with an average temperature of 24 degrees centigrade ( 75 degrees Fahrenheit ) . Summer is from May until September and is characterized by scorching heat and high humidity . Average temperatures range between 25 and 29 degrees centigrade. Autumn is from October to November, with average temperatures ranging between 22 and 24 degrees centigrade. Winter is from December to February. The weather is cold, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 19 degrees centigrade.

The rainy season is from April to May, but may last to September. In spring,Taipei is abloom with azaleas and the temperature hovers between 1 9 and 2 2 degrees centigrade.

Taiwan experienced an average of three to four typhoons during April to November , but they do not have a long- term impact on the islands.

Currency The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) , and is the only legal tender in Taiwan. NT $ bills come in five denominations of $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $2,000, with four hard coins including $1, $5, $10, and $50. The current exchange rate is around NT$34 to US $1. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government- designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged , and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards ( MASTER CARD , VISA, AMERICAN EXPRESS , etc . ) are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks , some tourist - oriented businesses, and (by room guests ) most international tourist hotels . Banks are open 09:00-15:30, Monday through Friday.

Electrical Appliances

Taiwan's electricity supply works at 110V 60Hz.The sockets are ( American) standard ( two flat-pronged) ones. If bringing your own electrical appliances, please ensure you have the necessary transformers and adaptors.

Travel Documents

Visas for Taiwan can be obtained through the consular services provided by the TECRO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative's Office) nearest to you . Passports should be valid for six months from the time of arrival. Fourteen-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of 20 countries and 30-day landing visas are afforded to citizens of 23 countries . For any further information, please visit the website of http://www.boca.gov.tw/~mayling/visafp.htm

Observers and Visitors

We warmly welcome the observers and visitors who accompany their national delegations . The fee is US$1,200 for an observer and US$1,100 for a visitor . Withregard to lodging and meals they enjoy the same privileges as the team leaders. They are equally welcome to attend the opening and closing ceremonies, farewell banquet , and the various other activities planned by the organizers . Visitors are not permitted to attend meetings related to the competitions. Observers may attend work-related meetings , and will each receive formal IPhO documents.

Those interested in joining the Olympiad as observers or visitors should apply to the Organizing Committee as soon as possible.

Voluntary Fee

Incredible Beauty of Taroko Gorge
The Organizers will bear all costs of travel , lodging and meals during the Olympiad for 2 team leaders and 5 student participants from each country . However , all teams are requested to contribute to the effort with a customary donation of US$3,500 each.