News Blog

SEPTEMBER 2022

Panama will host the 2023 World Robotics Olympics

27 September 2022
Panama will host the 2023 World Robotics Olympics

The World Robot Olympiad Association (WRO) announced through its website that Panama has been chosen to host the next World Robot Olympiad in 2023.

The First Lady of the Republic, Yazmín Colón de Cortizo, accompanied by the Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, and the president of FUNDESTEAM, Marvin Castillo, supported last Friday, November 12, before the board of directors of the WRO Association and of its secretary general, Claus Christensen, the progress of Panama in robotics and the advantages that the country offers to host such an important event.

In November of last year, Panama held for the first time in Latin America a robotics Olympics in virtual format, in which more than a thousand students from 11 countries in the region competed through the Robot Virtual Games platform, created last August by Panamanians.

 

In Panama, the National Foundation for the Development of STEAM (FUNDESTEAM) has been organizing the National Robotics Olympics in the country for seven years.

This achievement was possible thanks to the support of the National Government, which since 2019, when this opportunity arose, believed in the project and has worked jointly with FUNDESTEAM, its main manager being Yazmín Colón de Cortizo, First Lady of the Republic and Ambassador of STEAM Education for the Americas of the Pan American Foundation for the Development of the Organization of American States, with the support and guidance of the Ministry of Education.

 

Panama formally submitted its application to host the event, during the first official visit to the Secretary General of the WRO, Claus Christensen, during the World Robotics Olympics held in Hungary in 2019. From there, for the next two years, Panama was participating in the selection process through a coalition led by the First Lady of the Republic, the Ministry of Education and FUNDESTEAM, carrying out actions to join the public, private and academic sectors in the STEAM education strategy.

As part of these actions to achieve the designation, last September Claus Christensen, Secretary General of the WRO, carried out an inspection visit to our country, which included several technical meetings with interest groups, both from the Government and the private sector and NGOs.

During the visit, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, together with the First Lady of the Republic, Yazmín Colón de Cortizo, received Christensen at the Palacio de las Garzas, where both expressed their deep commitment to the development of education STEAM in Sciences, Technologies, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics using Robotics and Programming as gamification tools for problem solving, also known as STEAM Education.

 

With this official announcement, hard work begins so that our country is ready to receive the more than 5,000 international visitors who will participate in the World Robotics Olympics, which will take place from November 7 to 9, 2023 in the new Convention Center of Amador.

 

As part of this preparation, the Ministry of Education is already working on different public policy initiatives that seek to raise the quality of education, relying on the STEAM education methodology.

 

The announcement represents a historic milestone for Panama, which, despite showing weaknesses in international standardized evaluations, has managed to get students, participants in the National Robotics Olympics, to achieve important international rankings. Texts source: https://www.critica.com.pa

It may have taken a long while, but the Central American gem of Panama has finally lifted all of its Covid travel restrictions, which kept thousands of travelers from visiting during the pandemic. Essentially, they have returned their pre-2020 entry guidelines, allowing for the resumption of normal tourism. As of this week, everyone is welcome, vaccinated or not.

 

PRIOR TO TRAVELING:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  • No entry restrictions.
  • Travelers do not have to present negative test results.

DURING YOUR VISIT

It is not necessary to wear masks outdoors or indoors. The use of a mask is only mandatory in:

  • ​Public transport
  • People working or handling food
  • Public or private health facilities

We encourage all travelers to respect the social distance of 2 meters.

Business meetings are admitted with 100% capacity, if all participants have their vaccination card complete.

FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN

  • We encourage all travelers to check travel restrictions of your destination country and airport.
  • COVID-19 testing is available for Departing Passengers from Tocumen International Airport.
  • The center is open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
  • The cost of the COVID-19 rapid test is $50.00 USD and the result takes around 40 minutes.
  • The service is first come, first serve, so we encourage all passengers that want to get tested to arrive with enough time before their flight.

 If you need anything in Panama Republic, we will be happy to help you to plan and operate your event or program.  

Please, look at SAMPLE PROGRAM that we have prepared for you to show what can be organized for your clients in Panama.

Just let me know and we’ll prepare tailor made program for you to face all your individual requirements.

Tsar Events Panama DMC can help you with your clients who wants to have private tailor-made program while their ship stops in Panama port. We provide all types of Ground Handling Services for Cruise Lines in Panama ports.

 For Groups & Individual guests arriving to Panama by Cruise ships we will help you with:

  • Tailor made shore excursions, cultural sightseeing, outdoor adventures, discovery tours 
  • Private Transportation & Guides for tailor made itineraries (WE OWN OUR OWN FLEET)
  • Delightful lunch & Dining, Dine around, Gala dinners, Catering services
  • Special Interest Tours
  • Hotel sugestions & booking
  • Limousine & Private Cars & VIP Sevices
  • Musical Enterainement & Performers, Shows
  • Co-ordinating pre and post-cruise stays (hotels, transfers and assistance)
  • Other Destination Management Services