distributed throughout 10 Mexican states and the Federal District. The program currently operates at 16 venues. Science Olympiads The original aim of this program, initiated in 1991, was the organization of four nationwide competitions in the areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, for pre-university students. In each area, the competitions are composed of three stages; state, national and training and selection of the delegations that will represent Mexico at international competitions. The Academia also organizes five competitions: the National Chemistry Olympiad the National Biology Olympiad, the Spring Mathematics Competitions for students ages 13 to 15, the Funny Mathematics Competition for students under 12 and the Mexican Geography Olympiad. National Chemistry Olympiad The Academia Mexicana de Ciencias, in conjunction with the Asociación Mexicana de Química Analítica, the Academia Mexicana de Química Inorgánica and the Sociedad Química de México organize the National Chemistry Olympiad. Approximately 8,000 students participate in this competition nationwide, every year. Within the national and Latin American sphere, nine gold medals, 21 silver, 27 bronze medals and eight honorable mentions were obtained between 1994 and 2004. National Biology Olympiad Since 1999, AMC has participated in the International Biology Olympiad. Six bronze and one silver medals have been obtained to date. Approximately 7,000 participate nationwide every year. Spring Mathematics Competition AMC annually invites applications for this competition, created in 1996 and consisting of two levels, one for children under thirteen, the other for teenagers under the age of fifteen. The winners participate in the May Olympiad, an international competition carried out simultaneously in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. The winners of this competition then participate in the River Plate Olympiad, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Between 1996 and 2004, nine gold medals, 28 silver medals, 86 bronze medals and 37 honorable mentions were obtained. In 2004, 200,824 students participated nationwide. Funny Mathematics Competition The Funny Mathematics Competition, created in 1998, is aimed at children under the age of 12. The winners also participate in international competitions, particularly the one held every summer in Hong Kong. In 2004, 81,474 children participated nationwide. Mexican Geography Olympiad The Mexican Geography Olympiad was first held in 2003. It is organized in conjunction with Fundación Televisa and National Geographic en Español. The competition is aimed at students under the age of 17 most of whom are at secondary school. Over 100,000 students participate nationwide every year, with the winners representing Mexico at the World Geography