Insider Brief
- The 1st International Humanoid Robot Olympiad will take place at the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece, from August 29 to September 2, co-organized by Acumino and Endeavor Greece.
- The five-day event will feature keynote talks, technical sessions, workshops, and live demonstrations from companies such as Unitree and Booster Robotics, highlighting global advances in humanoid robotics, including reinforcement learning, exoskeleton systems, and international developments from 12 countries.
- Beyond technical showcases, the Olympiad will include film screenings, cultural events, and exhibitions, aiming to position Greece as a hub for robotics and Physical Artificial Intelligence while connecting the legacy of the Olympic Games to the emerging era of humanoid machines.
The birthplace of the Olympic Games will soon host a very different kind of competition. From August 29 to September 2, the International Olympic Academy in Olympia will stage the 1st International Humanoid Robot Olympiad, bringing together humanoid robots, scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from around the world.
The event, co-organized by Acumino and Endeavor Greece, is to demonstrate how humanoid robots are advancing from lab curiosities into machines capable of real-world tasks, athletic demonstrations, and creative expression. Organizers frame it as a global showcase of cutting-edge humanoid capabilities across research, industry, and culture.
According to the organizers, over five days, the Olympiad will feature keynote talks, technical presentations, and workshops spanning topics such as reinforcement learning, exoskeleton systems, and the global race to build competitive humanoid platforms. Researchers from 12 countries are slated to share insights, with a particular focus on the rise of China, developments in New Zealand and Colombia, and the broader international push toward humanoid systems.
“The 1st International Humanoid Olympiad seeks to highlight Greece on the global stage of Robotics and Physical Artificial Intelligence as a center of innovation and technological excellence,” said Dr. Minas Liarokapis on behalf of the organizing committee. “It is a unique opportunity for Greece to lead in technological progress and be at the frontier of this new industrial revolution, as it possesses the most crucial ingredient: a highly skilled and talented workforce. Join us to discover how well humanoid robots perform today and what challenges and opportunities the future holds.”
The event will also host an exhibition of humanoid and robotic systems, alongside hands-on educational workshops for all ages. Live demonstrations from companies including Unitree and Booster Robotics will showcase robots in athletic and industrial scenarios, highlighting just how far the technology has come in blending agility, strength, and autonomy.
Complementing the technical program, the Olympiad will include film screenings curated by Cinobo—ranging from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927) to Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (2015)—as well as parties and cultural events. Organizers said they aiming to make robotics both accessible and inspiring to a wide audience, not just industry insiders.
This is a paid ticketed event with children under 9 admitted free. VIP passes include accommodation and full board at the International Olympic Academy, giving attendees access to industrial demonstrations, reserved seating, and memorabilia. The full schedule is available online at humanoidolympiad.org.
The event is supported by Mass Robotics, Silicon Valley Robotics, Microsoft for Startups, Panathenea, Athens Voice, ThinkBiz, Swiss Future Institute, Marketing Greece, Discover Greece, Cinobo, New Dexterity. More information on the event can be found here.
