On August 8th and 9th, at the Nihon University Department of Science and Engineering at Kanagawa University, the first JSETEC (Japan Space Elevator Technical & Engineering Competition) competition will be held. This event is hosted by the Japan Space Elevator Association.
From the event Press Release:
Participants will compete to see whose battery-powered Climber is the fastest to ascend the 50mm wide 150m long tether which is elevated by a helium-filled balloon.
8 teams are scheduled to compete and it looks like it will be a lot of fun.
For more details, check out the Press Release or visit their website.