BEIJING, China: The world’s first humanoid robot games have opened in Beijing, bringing together more than 500 androids from 16 countries to compete in sports ranging from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu.
The competition, staged at the National Speed Skating Oval built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, blends traditional events such as athletics and basketball with practical challenges including medical categorisation and cleaning.
“I believe in the next 10 years or so, robots will be basically at the same level as humans,” said 18-year-old spectator, Chen Ruiyuan.
Early contests saw five-a-side football robots, each the size of a seven-year-old, shuffling awkwardly and occasionally collapsing in heaps.
But there were flashes of impressive capability – Unitree’s humanoids dominated the 1500m, with the fastest finishing in 6:29:37.
One mechanical runner collided with a human operator, who was knocked over while the robot stayed upright.
Organisers said the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first event to focus solely on human-shaped machines.
Beijing has placed humanoids at “the centre of their national strategy”, the International Federation of Robotics noted, as part of a bid to lead global technology.
Authorities are using the Games to spark public interest.
Parent, Cui Han, whose 10-year-old attended through a school trip, said: “I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies.”
In March, China unveiled a one-trillion-yuan fund for technology start-ups, including robotics and AI.
Already the world’s largest market for industrial robots, China hosted what it called the first humanoid robot half-marathon in April.
Chen, who will soon begin studying automation, said: “Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field. My favourite is the boxing, because… it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before.”
At the kung fu arena, a Transformer-like robot attempted a move before toppling over, spinning helplessly on the floor as spectators roared with delight. – AFP
