FRC to be at the 2020 Olympics?

[414cnewq]

Maybe it should just be a FRC "All Star Game": 6 robotics teams comprised of current and former Woodie Flowers and Dean's list awards winners.

[tjf]

In my honest opinion, using FIRST and FRC at the Olympics is the exact opposite end goal of both events.

The Olympics are a set of events to show off the vast physical and strategic prowess of the athletes, some of which spend their entire lives practicing and training.

FIRST and FRC are a set of events with the goal of training people to be smart, talented, and well rounded individuals. The only way (personally) I'd like to see FRC at the Olympics would be if a team helped build equipment or a technology that enabled athletes to come back / go to the special Olympics. (Long story in short, enablement through technology)


On Growing FIRST ==>
What FIRST and FRC need is just a small fraction of the televised attention of the Olympics for the competition. Back when FRC was on ESPN that served as a way to get "the populous" or people who might never do FRC otherwise to become aware of it. The closest thing I can think of is to partner with Twitch in the coming years, to get the Champs on the homepage. One small thing they might do would be ask the F4 people to run the stream, though I don't think FIRST would ever allow students to directly represent them in a semi-televised / livestreamed event.

Looking at you @Sperkowski!

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by tjf

In my honest opinion, using FIRST and FRC at the Olympics is the exact opposite end goal of both events.

The Olympics are a set of events to show off the vast physical and strategic prowess of the athletes, some of which spend their entire lives practicing and training.

FIRST and FRC are a set of events with the goal of training people to be smart, talented, and well rounded individuals. The only way (personally) I'd like to see FRC at the Olympics would be if a team helped build equipment or a technology that enabled athletes to come back / go to the special Olympics. (Long story in short, enablement through technology)


On Growing FIRST ==>
What FIRST and FRC need is just a small fraction of the televised attention of the Olympics for the competition. Back when FRC was on ESPN that served as a way to get "the populous" or people who might never do FRC otherwise to become aware of it. The closest thing I can think of is to partner with Twitch in the coming years, to get the Champs on the homepage. One small thing they might do would be ask the F4 people to run the stream, though I don't think FIRST would ever allow students to directly represent them in a semi-televised / livestreamed event.

Looking at you @Sperkowski!

I'd argue that in addition to the goals you mentioned for Olympic athletes, the goals of FIRST also applies to them as well. Not either or.

I grew up with a good friend that was a silver olympic medalist in Judo. He is the embodiment of your definition of what FIRST goals are, while training for the Olympics back then.

[Akash Rastogi]

Please no do not compare playing with robots to what it takes to be in the Olympics.

I'm excited to see what the partnership will yield. A demo would be sort of cool, but anything past that would be absurd.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by tjf

On Growing FIRST ==>
What FIRST and FRC need is just a small fraction of the televised attention of the Olympics for the competition. Back when FRC was on ESPN that served as a way to get "the populous" or people who might never do FRC otherwise to become aware of it. The closest thing I can think of is to partner with Twitch in the coming years, to get the Champs on the homepage. One small thing they might do would be ask the F4 people to run the stream, though I don't think FIRST would ever allow students to directly represent them in a semi-televised / livestreamed event.

Looking at you @sperkowsky!

We(f4) have actually had discussions about stuff like this. We weren't thinking Champs but it's the same basic principle. If someone from Firsthq thinks this is a good idea we are ready .

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by tjf

One small thing they might do would be ask the F4 people to run the stream, though I don't think FIRST would ever allow students to directly represent them in a semi-televised / livestreamed event.

I'd let the FRC GameSense crew continue hosting the stream, as they did with #FIRSTChampLive. They did a beyond excellent job this year in a professional yet entertaining manner.

[chrisfl]

What if FIRST used the Olympics as a way of bringing both World Championships together. Like the alliances who go to play on Einstein at both events then face off at the Olympics. So the best from both Champs then face off to determine the best in the world. That is what the Olympics is about, determining the best athletes in the world. And with that there won't be any super elite Olympic teams forming. It'd still be the same FIRST has always happened and it would prevent arguments of whether the winning alliance from 1 championship is better than the winning alliance from the other.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by tjf

On Growing FIRST ==>
What FIRST and FRC need is just a small fraction of the televised attention of the Olympics for the competition. Back when FRC was on ESPN that served as a way to get "the populous" or people who might never do FRC otherwise to become aware of it. The closest thing I can think of is to partner with Twitch in the coming years, to get the Champs on the homepage. One small thing they might do would be ask the F4 people to run the stream, though I don't think FIRST would ever allow students to directly represent them in a semi-televised / livestreamed event.

So... you mean exactly what GameSense did this season?

[marshall]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Please no do not compare playing with robots to what it takes to be in the Olympics.

I mean, I'm not saying but I'm saying... know what I'm saying?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_co...ummer_Olympics

[DaveL]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Being "at the Olympics" doesn't mean it's an actual event at the Olympics. I suspect it's far more likely that an FRC demonstration or exhibition occurs somewhere on the Olympic campus during the games.

+1

In addition to demonstrations, the Olympics has demonstration sports that are used to judge interest and feasibility. In sailing before a new boat is selected, the Olympic committee will insure that there are enough teams in member countries that have access and experience before adding it to the line up.

I think its great to get robotics on the world stage in some fashion. While the winner take all approach of the Olympics might not make sense for FRC, we should be thinking of other ways to get on network TV.

In the states their is a summer program called BattleBots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rIDP0v3Qc0

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by chrisfl

What if FIRST used the Olympics as a way of bringing both World Championships together. Like the alliances who go to play on Einstein at both events then face off at the Olympics.

So the ChampionSplit winners from 2017 have to wait until 2020? I think most of the drive team will have graduated.

[Abhishek R]

Originally Posted by barn34

Complete agreement on this, and I don't think you'll get much counterargument. I mean, this would be setting a crazy precedent and taking human achievements and putting them on the same stage as man made mechanical ones. I think that defeats the entire principle behind the olympic games. That's just a step away (a large one, granted) from putting robots on the field with human athletes or allowing cypernetic enhancements to athletes. That's a horribly threacherous slope to be approaching, IMO. That's a Jurrasic Park level, red flag situation - don't focus on weather you could, stop to think if you should.

While I feel that FIRST teams should be recognized on the same level as sporting events and sport programs in the communities, I don't feel they should be compared outside of the recognition of the accomplishments.

Could not be said any better.