07 May Worldwide Campaign to “Declare Robotics a Sport” Launched by FIRST Global, Host of International Robotics Tournament
The “Olympics-style” robotics tournament organizer is calling on governments of the world to take the future into their hands and recognize robotics as a sport.
MANCHESTER, NH – FIRST Global, the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education nonprofit which hosts the annual FIRST Global Challenge—an Olympics-style robotics tournament featuring teams from 190 nations—announces a bold initiative to advocate for the formal recognition of robotics as a sport on a global scale. Under the rallying cry of “Robotics Is A Sport,” FIRST Global aims to garner support from governments worldwide to grant robotics recognition as an organized, competitive sport. This news comes soon after the organization announced it will convene the world in Athens, Greece, from 26-29 September for the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge, with the goal of empowering the world’s youth to work together using the tools of STEM to solve our planet’s most pressing problems.
FIRST Global’s Founder, Dean Kamen, who is known for inventions such as the Segway and the portable insulin pump, said, “I founded FIRST Global because I saw the power that sports have to inspire people. Kids want to be athletes! They want to thrive in a competitive environment where hard work leads to success.” He continued, “We pioneered the sport of robotics over thirty years ago to get kids interested in STEM education and it has worked wonders. Last year, over 650,000 students participated in FIRST programs in 190 nations across the world. It’s time we double down on this success and acknowledge what is obviously true: that robotics is a sport. It’s the only sport where everyone can go pro.”
The Rising Tide of Robotics Lifts All Boats
This globe-spanning campaign is about more than mere recognition. In many countries and localities, there are specific benefits associated with formal recognition as a sport that are not afforded to other activities. These benefits were implemented to encourage participation in sports among young people and for good reason. In a 2023 research study on the benefits of sports education, professor Maksimus Bisa wrote, “The findings of this study suggest that sports education is an effective means of building character, as it teaches values such as teamwork, discipline, responsibility, and leadership. These values contribute to developing students’ physical skills and personal and social competencies, which are crucial for success in life.”
Robotics, which first took its competitive form in 1989 with the founding of FIRST, also promotes these values while equipping students with skills which will help them succeed in the world’s increasingly digitized economy. In FIRST Global’s 2023 Impact Report, the organization’s student survey found that 91% of participants said they were more confident in their ability to cooperate with people they don’t know and 94% believe they gained key technical skills through their participation in robotics. An additional 87% said they were now more confident in their ability to develop a plan and achieve their goals, while 79% said the same about being a leader in a group project.
As the world enters the 21st century and novel problems of global importance arise, the sport of robotics is uniquely suited to prepare students for the future they will define. The goal of FIRST Global’s “Declare Robotics a Sport” campaign is to encourage the governments of the world to unlock these benefits for their country’s youth.
The Trailblazers in Belize and Indonesia
Inspired by FIRST Global, some countries have already taken this important step. In 2023, Belize became the first country in the world to recognize robotics as a sport after a successful lobbying effort started by FIRST Global Team Belize. In their declaration, Belize’s Ministry of Youth and Sport stated, “Robotics has emerged as a growing field that combines creativity, engineering, and programming skills. By recognizing robotics as a sport, Belize is demonstrating its commitment to innovation and providing young people with the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.”
In 2024, Indonesia became the second country to declare robotics a sport after their National Olympiad Committee officially recognized it as an “esport.” Speaking on the news of the announcement, Hisham Wahono, a member of FIRST Global Team Indonesia, said, “It is important to declare robotics a sport because then we have a wider expandability in Indonesia.” He continued, “So for example, right now our association has a member in every province in Indonesia. That means one message from the national committee will be sent to every single area in Indonesia, which makes expanding FIRST programs very easy. This means that we can help more people…to have the opportunity that we did as well.”
As part of the campaign, FIRST Global is engaging its network of students, teachers, parents, schools, and communities to lobby their governments to declare robotics a sport. Through grassroots activism, public awareness campaigns, and strategic partnerships, the organization seeks to encourage each country’s local and national governments to formally recognize the sport of robotics and take control of their future.
For more information about FIRST Global’s worldwide movement to declare robotics a sport, please visit https://first.global/sport/
Contact:
press@first.global
