As participants and supporters of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students (IMC), we are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency regarding how the participation fees are used. Over the past few years, we've witnessed alarming increases in these fees, without any clear communication from the organisers as to the reason why.

Students and institutions who participate at the IMC are experiencing difficulties in adjusting to these rising costs. This financial strain is especially burdensome for students from low-income backgrounds or those from universities with limited funding, potentially hindering access to invaluable opportunities. Moreover, the increasing fees without appropriate improvement in competition services or participant experience raise questions and doubts among the community. Moreover as IMC achieves new record participant numbers, it would even be reasonable to expect cost savings due to volume discount effects.

The IMC is one of only a few competitions enabling undergraduate students from all around the world to compete and connect. And among these, IMC is outstanding in its prestige and size, as well as its problem quality. We believe in the importance of transparency, accountability, and integrity. If the IMC wishes to maintain its standing as a prestigious and fair platform, it owes its participants and stakeholders a clear breakdown of how each euro collected in fees is spent. Such transparency would not only build trust but also ensure fairness, thereby aligning with the educational and inclusive values that the IMC champions.

Join us in calling on the IMC organisers to publish a comprehensive financial report that details the annual income and expenditures of the competition. This would significantly improve transparency, ensure continued accessibility, and uphold the integrity of this invaluable academic event.