The Japanese prime minister wants to hold the world's first robots Olympics when Tokyo hosts the 2020 Olympics.
Shinzo Abe, who revealed his ambition while touring robotics factories in Tokyo and Saitama, said that a robot Olympics would be a good way for countries across the world to show off advances in the technology.
Mr Abe, who did not elaborate further on what type of events could take place, said: “In 2020, I would like to gather all of the world’s robots and aim to hold an Olympics where they compete in technical skills.”
The announcement by Abe, who could make Japan’s robotics industry key to its economic recovery, follows the prime minister setting up a task force exploring how to grow the country’s robotics industry to £14trn annually.
As the world’s third largest economy, Japan has been beset by stagnation in recent years, despite having a world leading robotics industry valued at £2.4bn.
Japan’s idea also follows a Swiss robotics laboratory announcing an international competition taking place in the country in 2016 for athletes using prosthetics and mechanical aids.
