"I want to present an objective perspective on why the competition raises concerns, rather than writing a narrative or story. This is based on being a community leader for a year and contestant for 3 years now.

1. Inconsistent and Informal Payment Structure : Payments are handled through external channels, not the official platform. Some teams pay 25,000 EGP per person (officially qualified), others 50,000 EGP per person (unofficially). This year for the first time after deadlines, an additional 10,000 EGP per person is charged—an unreasonable variation.

2. Mandatory and Overpriced Accommodation Bundled with Fees : Participants must pay fixed accommodation bundled with registration, costing 25,000 EGP per Egyptian student—roughly a semester’s tuition—regardless of personal circumstances. Many could find alternatives for 1% of the cost, yet teams may still pay the full amount even if a member cannot attend, making the policy highly unreasonable and wealth-dependent.

3. Sponsors Should Offset Student Costs : With sponsorship reportedly requiring a minimum contribution of $25,000 per sponsor, student fees should be reduced—or unnecessary altogether.

4. Unverified and Unofficial Communication : Payment instructions are shared through forwarded emails rather than official institutional channels. While a stamp appears on some documents, it is a copied print—not an original stamp or signed document, making it easy to replicate and raising serious concerns about authenticity, accountability, and traceability.

Requests to Solve these problems :

1. Transparent and Consistent Payment System

• All registration and payment processes should be handled directly through the official platform.
• Fees must be clearly published and standardized to avoid arbitrary variations or excessive late penalties.

1. Separate Competition Fees from Accommodation

• Participants should have the option to pay a competition fee independently of accommodation.
• Accommodation packages should be optional, fairly priced, and not mandatory for participation.

Note: The issue should be formally recognized by universities, ICPC officials, and the Ministry to ensure accountability, fairness, and accessibility, rather than leaving resolution solely to students."

Submitted 29/11/2025, 15:22

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