China Update

In September, to create greater equity among students, the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced new requirements for organizations wishing to host student competitions. FIRST Robotics Competition, like all FIRST programs, is international and we are committed to meeting all local requirements necessary to make our programs broadly available.

FIRST HQ has been working with local FIRST staff to understand the new law and find the best path forward for the 2019 season. Meeting the new requirements set forth by the MOE will require us to develop new relationships with approved partners in China. The timing of the requirements is such that we won’t be able to meet them for the 2019 season. As we are determined to meet these requirements in the long term and give as much notice as possible to our community about significant changes to the upcoming season, we are canceling the three Regionals we had planned for China in 2019. This will give us the time we need to develop the necessary relationships and put forth a solid application to hold events in China for the 2020 season and beyond.

We are working now to find alternative competition locations for teams currently registered to compete in China. All teams registered for all three Chinese Regionals (including those from outside China) are being contacted now.

We are working to have an off-season event in China and are looking forward to submitting a successful application to hold official FIRST Robotics Competition events in China in 2020.

If you have any questions about this, you can contact FIRST Team Support by emailing firstroboticscompetition@firstinspires.org or calling (603) 666-3906 or (800) 871-8326.

Frank