Kevin Yamal Cobel Miranda has spent half a year preparing for the biggest challenge of his young life. The 14-year-old will face more than 70 arithmetic problems in just five minutes, competing against hundreds of children from around the world. But when asked about the upcoming tournament, he does not talk about nerves or pressure. He talks about his country.
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“I am very excited because at last they can come to see our beautiful country, meet its people, its culture, the food. They will know that Panama is a very beautiful country,” Miranda said. Aloha Mental Arithmetic has chosen Panama City as the host for its World Championship on July 26. Nearly 1,000 children from more than 20 nations will gather at the Panama Convention Center for the event.
The competition marks a significant milestone for the Central American nation. Organizers say Panama earned this honor through strong performances by its young competitors at previous international tournaments held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Russia and China. The global program’s leadership took notice of the Panamanian results.
“Thanks to the good representation that we Panamanians have had in these international championships, the international organization became interested in Panama,” explained Adrian Cedeno, director of the program in Panama. [Translated from Spanish]
More Than Just Numbers
The tournament will feature approximately 400 Panamanian participants. The remaining competitors will travel from countries across Asia, the Americas and beyond. Contestants must solve sums, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, powers, square roots, percentages, fractions and combined operations within the strict time limit. Tests are adapted for different age groups and skill levels.
But organizers insist the competition is about something much bigger than mathematics. The program focuses on cognitive development, brain training and mental improvement. Math serves as a tool rather than the ultimate goal.
“The focus is on cognitive development of the brain, improvement and training. Mathematics is really an added value,” Cedeno said. [Translated from Spanish]
This philosophy explains why Panamanian competitors have undergone extensive preparation over the past six months. Their training includes technical drills, sessions with sports psychologists and nutritional guidance. These elements help strengthen concentration, pressure management and overall mental performance.
Facing Global Powerhouses
Panamanian children will compete against delegations considered dominant forces in mental arithmetic. Countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia and India have long histories of success in these competitions. Their training systems are well established and highly competitive.
Yet Panama has proven it can hold its own on the world stage. The country’s previous showings at international events convinced the global organization to bring the championship to Central America for the first time. Local organizers view this as both recognition and opportunity.
The Panama Convention Center will transform into a hub of intense mental activity on July 26. Young competitors from different cultures and languages will share a universal language of numbers and logic.
Panama has invested in developing its youth talent through this program for years. The results have attracted international attention. Now the country gets to showcase its progress on home soil.
The championship also carries economic and tourism benefits. Families of competitors from overseas will travel to Panama, filling hotels and restaurants. Local businesses stand to gain from the influx of international visitors.
For the young participants, the experience extends beyond competition. They will interact with peers from around the world, exchange cultural experiences and build friendships that cross borders. These connections often last long after the final scores are tallied.
Miranda and his fellow Panamanian competitors carry the hopes of their nation. They have trained for months with dedicated coaches and support staff. They have learned to control their breathing, focus their minds and trust their training under pressure.
The format demands exceptional speed and accuracy. Seventy operations in five minutes means solving each problem in roughly four seconds. There is no room for hesitation or second-guessing. The brain must work at full capacity from start to finish.
Panama’s selection as host nation reflects growing recognition of its educational initiatives and youth development programs. The country has positioned itself as a regional hub for conferences and international events in recent years. This championship adds another dimension to that reputation.
When the competition begins on July 26, hundreds of children will sit in silence, pencils in hand, waiting for the signal. Their minds will race through calculations that would challenge most adults. For five intense minutes, they will demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of the trained human brain.
And when it ends, win or lose, they will have taken part in something larger than any individual victory. They will have shown that mental discipline, hard work and determination can bridge cultures and create understanding across borders. For Panama, hosting this event proves that a small country can stand tall on the global stage.
Estudiantes panameños participarán en el Mundial de Arítmética Mental que este año se realizará en Panamá, con la participación de más de 20 países de diferentes partes del mundo. pic.twitter.com/onbueAyTjD
— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) July 6, 2026