Argentine students to compete in Int'l Geography Olympiad in China

Four Argentinian students will travel to Beijing, China in August to compete in the 13th International Geography Olympiad (iGeo), officials from the province of Santa Fe announced Thursday.

The students, one of whom is from the province, will test their geography skills against fellow students from around the world at a six-day event starting on Aug.16.

Brenda Castelli of Santa Fe, Gaston Bocco of Cordoba, Martina Melano of San Salvador de Jujuy and Blas Sosa of Mar del Plata, are set to depart on Aug. 13, accompanied by Blanca Fritschy, the director of the iGeo program at the National Littoral University, Santa Fe officials said in a press release.

"I'm really nervous," said Castelli, 16. "I have always dreamed of going to an international event, but I never thought it would happen."

"I'm also very happy, because it took a lot effort to make it. I spent a summer inside the house," she added.

The teenager encouraged other students to join the program, saying "these are the events that help you grow and prepare for the future."

Qualifying for the world competition is not easy, according to Claudia Pirani, the professor of geography at Castelli's school in Bigand, Santa Fe.

"The final tests of the selection round were very intense -- lasting up to 12 hours -- not just for the children, but also for the teachers," who receive additional training in cartography (map making), said Pirani.

"The children are going to China with two cartography projects each, based on their own place of origin," she added.

"Brenda studied during vacations (and) we would get together to work on the projects. She studied a lot on her own, and at other times we got together. But it is a proud moment for her," said Pirani.

The Olympiad is open to geography students between the ages of 16 and 19.

Last year's contest, hosted by Tver, a region northwest of Moscow, Russia, was won by Chang-Chin Wang from Taipei, China. Endit