Young robotics enthusiasts from Menorca have been preparing for this year’s World Robot Olympiad (WRO), with a training day in Sant Lluís that could open the door to the national final.
What is the WRO?
The World Robot Olympiad began in 2004 with a handful of Asian countries and has grown into a global competition involving teams from almost 100 countries. Its aim is to inspire young people to explore robotics, programming and engineering through practical challenges.
Participants, aged roughly 8 to 19, work in teams to design, build and program robots to complete a series of tasks. They compete in categories by age, so that challenges are appropriate to each group. Each year the competition has a global theme that shapes the missions the robots must complete.
Menorca joins in
Menorca has taken part in the WRO since 2020. Its participation is organised by the Camí de ses Vinyes residents’ association, TEA Menorca and Sant Lluís town council, who run preparation days and help form teams.
The preparation day
The latest session took place on a Saturday at the Sala Albert Camus in Sant Lluís, where the teams fine-tuned their robots ahead of the national qualifiers. Five teams, with 15 young people in total, took part. The organisers provided tables, power and a supportive environment for testing and fixing problems.
Towards Andorra
Rafa Muñoz, one of the organisers, explained that based on the scores achieved, two Menorcan teams — one in the elementary category and one in another junior category — are likely to receive invitations to the Spanish national final, to be held in Andorra in September. A strong performance there could lead to the international final later in the year.
Linking robots and culture
This year’s challenges invite participants to explore how technology can connect with culture and heritage, and the Menorcan organisers have encouraged teams to draw on the island’s own traditions — from its historic sites to its crafts and festivals.
More than a competition
Beyond the results, the organisers stress the educational value of the WRO: building and programming robots develops problem-solving, logical thinking and coding skills, while teamwork teaches communication, leadership and resilience. For a small island, having a growing group of young people involved in an international robotics competition is a significant achievement.
