In the first online phase from Oct. 9 - Nov. 12, 2023, participants will have one week each to complete specific online tasks to demonstrate their German language and culture skills. The online phase takes place at 2 levels: A2 and B1. The best 10 students of each level will be invited to participate in the second NDO. The second NDO will also take place online, at the beginning of 2024. The worldwide final will be held in Göttingen from 15.07. - 22.07.2024. About 150 students between 14 and 17 years of age from 75 countries will participate. German native speakers are excluded from the competition.

Conditions of Participation

Who can participate? The language level of the students should be A2, B1 or B2. Students must be at least 14 and no more than 17 years old during the IDO 2024 (15-22 July 2024), i.e. they must have been born between 24/25 July 2006 and 13/14 July 2010 (depending on the country's time zone). Excluded from participation - for reasons of fairness – are: Students whose native language or language of communication is German, or at least one of whose parents is German-speaking Students who have lived in German-speaking countries for more than six months after the age of three Students from German schools abroad Students from local private schools whose language of instruction and communication is predominantly German Students who already have a language scholarship for Germany for 2024 Former students who have already begun their studies at a university Students who are 18 or older Important: Incorrect information about the students will lead to disqualification or disqualification of winning places. Requirements for participating students: The IDO Final is an International German language learning competition that is accompanied by an extensive social program in Germany. All students are required to participate in the entire IDO program: Preparation workshops, competition tasks, cultural and leisure program.

We're happy to help: teacherservice-chicago@goethe.de

International German Olympics (IDO)

Known as the great international celebration of the German language, the IDO is coming to Göttingen in 2024! There, young people will not only compete for the title of the best German learners, but also embark on a discovery tour through the green city of science. Around 50 countries worldwide are now preparing for the IDO finals in national preliminary rounds.

Picture of all NDO Participants in the Goethe-Institut

Denise Elsman

Recap: NDO USA 2023/2024

The motto of the IDO 2024 is: "BE PART OF IT! Creating knowledge. Making the future".

In a first digital preliminary round in October and November, 118 students from the German programs of American high schools took part. 16 young people prevailed against their peers from 16 states and 31 different schools in this 5-week round and were invited to the national finals in Chicago from March 1 - 2, 2024.

In addition to the competition, the young people also experienced a varied cultural and leisure program this weekend, including a city tour in German on Chicago's architecture and sauerbraten, schnitzel, bratwurst and Black Forest gateau for dinner in a German restaurant. Between the exams, there was plenty of time for exchange, conversation and socializing - all in German, of course!

Avery Lauenstein (A2) from Brookfield East High School, WI and Elsa Haywiser (B1) from Mt. Lebanon High School, PA impressed with their written performance as well as their creativity and team spirit during the oral presentations.

The picture shows the two winners of the NDO 2024, Avery Lauenstein and Elsa Haywiser, in the Goethe-Institut Chicago.

Avery Lauenstein and Elsa Haywiser, Winner of NDO USA 2024 | © Goethe-Institut

The two students will represent the USA at the finals of the International German Olympics in Göttingen in July 2024. They receive a scholarship from the Goethe-Institut for this trip. The two students will be accompanied by German teacher Kelsie Pattillo-Miller from Brookfield East High School.

Do you want to have an insight into the two days of NDO?
Here is a short video of the NDO competition in Chicago: NDO 2024

What is the IDO?

The International German Olympics is the largest German language competition and takes place every two years. In addition to competing for the places of the world's best German learners, the IDO is about getting to know and understanding other cultures.

Under the theme of SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU CAN DO!, the Goethe-Institut Chicago is once again looking for two "Olympians" to represent the United States in the finals.

The IDO will take place every two years and thus again in 2025/2026.

The national preliminaries have started!

The first round of the National German Olympics (NDO) will take place in the following period: Oct. 9 - Nov. 12, 2023. This is the first preliminary round for IDO 2024.

The first NDO spans a period of 5 weeks, allowing students enough opportunity to complete the tasks alongside their regular school routine. Registration is facilitated through the German teachers in US High Schools. Registrations will be accepted until September 30, 2023

Recap: IDO USA 2022

Chelsey Gilbert (Monroe High School, WI) and Lauren Guo (Ralston Valley High School, CO) travelled to Hamburg in the summer of 2022 and represented the USA in the international finals! They competed against 385 other contestants from 28 states and 67 schools in two national rounds.
During the two-day competition in Chicago, they not only showed off their impressive German skills, but also demonstrated great teamwork and creativity. Thank you to all of the other participants that can be equally proud of their outstanding achievements.

Chelsey and Lauren and their accompanying teacher, Paula Blum of Ralston Valley High School, recieved a scholarship to travel to Hamburg in the summer of 2022. It includes airfare, lodging, meals and program.