12 Sep Youth from 190+ Nations Unite in Athens for the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge with Performance by Black Eyed Peas
MANCHESTER, NH – FIRST Global, the nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young minds through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), will be uniting the world in Athens, Greece from September 26–29 for the 2024 FIRST Global Global Challenge. This year’s event will bring together students from over 190 countries to compete in a robotics challenge centered on the theme “Feeding the Future.”
The event will kick off with an unforgettable Opening Ceremony at the historic Panathenaic Stadium on September 26th at 7:00 PM local time. The evening will feature a special guest performance by the world-renowned Black Eyed Peas, following FIRST Global’s Parade of Nations, speeches from leadership in Greece, and a cultural performance by the group ΑΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΠΟΡΙΑ. Interested attendees can obtain a free ticket to the Opening Ceremony by visiting first.global/event and registering through FIRST Global’s official ticketing partner more.com. All tickets are free and seating will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“On September 26th, Athens will not be a city in the world but rather the world in a city,” said Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Global. “By uniting young innovators from across the globe to focus on critical issues like food security and sustainability, we are fostering the skills and values needed to create a more equitable and harmonious future. Athens, with its rich history of intellectual and cultural exchange, is the perfect setting for this global event.”
The Feeding the Future Robotics Challenge inspires participants to use their creativity and critical-thinking skills to design and build a robot from a standard kit of parts. FIRST Global teams must then maneuver their robot in a simulated world that emphasizes the intricate and interdependent relationship between water, food, and energy systems, while balancing these global resources to support a sustainable food system. Additionally, teams will participate in the Feeding the Future New Technology Experience, an innovation challenge in which students research and develop their own innovative solutions to create a more resilient and equitable food system, highlighting how the application of these technologies benefits economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
The Greek government has played a key role in supporting the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge. Greek Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Konstantinos Kyranakis, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “Hosting the FIRST Global 2024 World Competition in Athens for the first time is a great honor for Greece. We fought hard in previous years to bring the competition to our country and to host the best minds in the world through their 198 national teams. In recent years, the Greek team has consistently achieved distinctions in the top 3 positions. We support with all our strength the children who make our country proud.”
The event’s success is made possible by the support of Lam Research, the Title Sponsor of the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge. Lam Research is a global leader in innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services for the semiconductor industry, and its commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators is integral to the event.
“At Lam, we believe that innovation, teamwork, and creativity are fundamental to tackling the world’s biggest challenges,” said Steve Fine, chief communications officer and head of social impact programs, Lam Research. “This is why we are proud to support FIRST Global as they inspire a passion for STEM in young minds around the world and foster a generation of problem-solvers and innovators who will shape the future.”
The 2024 FIRST Global Challenge is more than a competition; it is a celebration of the creativity, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit of young people from every corner of the world. As students gather in Athens to share their ideas and solutions, they will be united by a common goal: to build a sustainable food future for all.
For more information about the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge and how to get involved, please visit https://first.global/fgc/.
Press Contact:
Matt Stalford
+1 (484) 574-2660
Media Resources:
- Find FIRST Global’s 2024 media kit, as well as photos from the 2023 Challenge, here.
- Watch the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge official promo video here.
- Tune into the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge live stream starting September 26th at first.global/live/
- Details from participating country teams can be found at first.global/fgc/#teams
