The inaccurate decision concerned the validation of a contestant’s answer. Specifically, during contestant Le Duc Minh's (Foreign Language Specialized School – University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi) Finish round, he was asked: “What is the nutritional mode of most bacteria and fungi?”
Contestant Duc Minh answered “Autotrophic”, which was incorrect. Contestant Nguyen Bach Hiep (Son Tay Specialized High School, Hanoi) then took the chance respond with “Chemoautotrophic”. The program’s announced correct answer was “Chemoheterotrophic”, and at the time of recording, the program’s advisor decided to award points to contestant Bach Hiep. However, after the contest concluded, the advisor acknowledged that this decision was had been incorrect. In fact, both contestants’ answers were wrong. The correct answer was “Chemoheterotrophic”, as initially announced by the program.
The Organizing Committee and program advisor sincerely apologized to the contestants, their families, their schools, and the audience. The advisor’s decision at the recording session may have affected contestant Duc Minh’s chances of qualifying qualify for the Quarter round.
According to the “Rules of Participation in Road to Olympia Mount”, once the contest has concluded, the results cannot be annulled, and contestants’ scores and rankings cannot be changed. However, in order to ensure fairness, uphold the spirit of learning, and encourage students, the Organizing Committee and the advisory board have decided to invite contestant Le Duc Minh to participate in the Quarter 4 round of the 25th Road to Olympia Mount’s contest as the fifth contestant.
