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The 8th Competition of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic of WAAMA held in Jilin, China
2024-07-26 11:33 Hits:203 Source:WAAMA


On July 15, 2024, the 8th Competition of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (hereinafter referred to as WAAMA) was held in Changchun, Jilin, China. This competition is hosted by the WAAMA, organized by the Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (hereinafter referred to as CAMAA), and co-organized by the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province, China and the Zhusuan Association of Changchun, China. Ou Wenhan, President of the 6th Council of the WAAMA and President of the CAMAA, and Chen Yulong, Director of Jilin Provincial Department of Finance, attended the event and delivered opening speeches. Xiao Qiuyong, Vice President of the WAAMA, Vice President of Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, Taiwan, China and Chairman of the Mathematical Committee of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic, Taiwan, China, Alexander Kartono Taslim, Vice President of the WAAMA and CEO of SEMPOA SIP Indonesia, Huey Chiang Huang, Consultant of the WAAMA and Founding President of the Chinese American Abacus Association, the United States, Cheng Beiping, Secretary-General of the WAAMA and Executive Vice President of the CAMAA, Zhang Yan, Chief Accountant of Jilin Provincial Department of Finance, Zhang Yuxiang, Director of Changchun Municipal Finance Bureau, and other guests attended the opening ceremony.

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Ou Wenhan pointed out that in 2013, UNESCO officially inscribed Chinese Zhusuan on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and highly praised it as offering the world an alternative knowledge system, which is an example of adaptability to contemporary needs. Chinese Zhusuan is a major invention in the history of human technology, an important achievement in the diversified development of human civilization, and an important carrier for the exchange and mutual learning of human civilization. Protecting, inheriting, and developing the intangible cultural heritage of abacus is our common responsibility. In recent years, with the continuous efforts of the WAAMA, global abacus colleagues have worked together to spread abacus and mental arithmetic to a wider range of countries and regions around the world, and more than 130 countries and regions have carried out abacus and mental arithmetic education. The Competition of WAAMA has built a bridge of communication, enhanced friendship, and consolidated unity and consensus. To better achieve the creative transformation and innovative development of abacus as intangible cultural heritage, he advocates: Enhance unity and cooperation, and be committed to the protection and inheritance of abacus as intangible cultural heritage worldwide; Be active in innovation and committed to the popularization and development of abacus and mental arithmetic science; Unite and cooperate to jointly promote the global abacus and mental arithmetic industry to a new level.

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Chen Yulong stated that abacus is a brilliant pearl of the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation, as well as a treasure of world culture. The mental arithmetic evolved on the basis of abacus is not only a civilization achievement created by the common development of human society, but also a common wealth for the benefit of future generations. Jilin, as a member unit of the WAAMA, adheres to scientific exploration and innovation in the cultivation of theoretical research, academic exchange, promotion of abacus and mental arithmetic, and has trained more than one million abacus and mental arithmetic talents. Jilin is willing to use this competition as a medium to strengthen international friendly exchanges and make new and greater contributions to promoting the prosperity and development of abacus industry, cultural exchange and mutual learning.

The competition consists of five groups: group of player, group A, group B, group C, and group D. Each Group has team contest. Group of player, Group A and B have individual all-round contest. Group C and D have individual event. Abacus and mental arithmetic contestants from all over the world compete actively, breaking through limits and creating excellent results, showcasing the spirit and competitive level of abacus and mental arithmetic contestants in the new era, perfectly interpreting the motto of the competition: "Faster, Higher, Defter, Stronger".

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During the competition, excellent abacus and mental arithmetic contestants from China demonstrated various forms of extremely difficult abacus and mental arithmetic, such as "double brain obstacle lightning mental arithmetic", "5-digit 100-number mental arithmetic marathon", and "large sum multiplication and division", fully demonstrating the charm, speed, and passion of abacus and mental arithmetic. Learners of abacus and mental arithmetic from Russia, Indonesia, Rwanda, Taiwan, China, and Jilin, China, performed dance and instruments with distinctive characteristics. The Jilin Provincial Symphony Orchestra performed a series of traditional Chinese music pieces. The performance, which combines the connotation of traditional abacus with modern music and art, plays a blessing and expectation for the future, spreads the culture of abacus and mental arithmetic, and promotes cultural exchange and mutual learning.

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In 2002, the WAAMA was established in Beijing. As an international united association made up of non-governmental education and research organizations of abacus and abacus-based mental arithmetic, the WAAMA has 55 member units covering 19 countries and regions. It has made positive contributions to promoting abacus and mental arithmetic culture, strengthening exchanges and cooperation among various abacus and mental arithmetic organizations, and promoting the dissemination, promotion and development of abacus and mental arithmetic education worldwide. Since the first Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition of WAAMA was held in 2004, the WAAMA has held 7 times of Competition, with nearly 2000 contestants from member organizations around the world participated.