Odyssey of the Mind Competition: Overview and Essentials

Updated: 19.05.2025

Read time: 3 min read

What Is Odyssey of the Mind?

In this uniquely interdisciplinary competition, teams creatively solve open-ended problems and present their solutions through performances, tackling both long-term and spontaneous challenges; to compete, students join a team, select a problem, and present their work at tournaments, with awards for the most innovative and effective solutions. Read on to discover further details, read about the organisation, and get our top tips for success.

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Where Does Odyssey of the Mind Take Place?

Odyssey of the Mind competitions are primarily held in person at local, regional, state, and world finals, hosted at schools, universities, or convention centers. Teams from many countries participate, but entry is usually through local or regional organizing bodies.

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About Odyssey of the Mind: Fostering Creativity Through Problem-Solving

Odyssey of the Mind is a global creative problem-solving competition founded in 1978 by Dr. C. Samuel Micklus at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in New Jersey. Initially named “Olympics of the Mind,” the program was rebranded to “Odyssey of the Mind”. The competition encourages students from kindergarten through college to work in teams to solve complex, open-ended problems that require creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

The program is administered by Creative Competitions, Inc. (CCI), a for-profit organization that provides the official problems and resources. Internationally, Odyssey of the Mind operates in over 25 countries, with teams from various nations participating in the World Finals held annually in the United States. The World Finals attract thousands of participants, including students, coaches, and volunteers, highlighting the program’s global reach and impact.

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Key Details

Subjects: Creative problem-solving, engineering, performance, teamwork

How to Enter: Form a team, select a long-term problem, register through a local association, and present solutions at competitions.

Age Range: Kindergarten through college (divisions by grade/age)

Competition Format: Teams select a long-term problem to solve and present their solution as a performance; also face a spontaneous problem on competition day.

Recognition: Trophies and medals for top teams at regional, state, and world finals.

Sample Task: With your team, perform a piece based on the opening night of a play going wrong.

Our Tips for Succeeding in Odyssey of the Mind

Encourage all team members to contribute ideas and brainstorm innovative solutions for your chosen problem. Build, test, and refine your solution, and practice your performance until it is polished and engaging. Prepare for spontaneous problems by practicing quick thinking and teamwork. Document your process and ensure your solution meets all competition rules. Creativity, originality, and collaboration are essential.

FAQs

Is Odyssey of the Mind Competitive?

The Odyssey is competitive at local, regional, and world levels, with teams judged on creativity and problem-solving; only the most innovative teams advance to international finals.