Childhood math competitions have a long history in the world. It is generally believed that it started at 1894 and was organized by the Hungarian mathematics community to commemorate the mathematician Eotvos Roland. Comparing mathematics competition with sports competition, it is the former Soviet Union that is linked with ancient Greece, the birthplace of science. In the first half of the 20th century, various mathematical competitions were organized in different countries. A pyramid-shaped competition system was gradually formed in schools, regions and the whole country. The further development of national competitions naturally creates the necessary conditions for the formation of the highest international competition. The Mathematical Committee of Budapest University in Hungary was initiated in 1975. 1978 In August, the first World Olympic Mathematics Competition (WMO) was held in Hungary. With the expansion of influence, more and more countries and regions are involved. 1998, with the support of Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the joint efforts of Japan's Juvenile Intelligence Development Fund and 20 large enterprises, the headquarters of the Association was moved to Tokyo, Japan. The current chairman is Professor Peter Frank, a world-renowned mathematics educator. At present, there are more than 60 teams participating in this competition. After more than 30 years of development, the operation of the World Mathematical Olympics has been gradually institutionalized and standardized, and a set of established routines has been followed by all previous hosts.

In 2005, after discussion and research by the members of the Association, it was decided to hold the World Youth Olympic Mathematics Competition in Tokyo in 2008. In 2006, it received an application from the China Organizing Committee, and was admitted to the association in August 2007.

These two are a competition, because the World Olympic Mathematics Competition is aimed at teenagers, so it is also called the World Youth Olympic Mathematics Competition.