With more than 2,000 humanoids converged in Beijing, the second World Humanoid Robot Games unfolds a high-tech showcase of the latest advances in robotic athleticism and motion control with over 50 competitions set for robot athletes.
Co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government and China Media Group, the games features 30 competitive sports events and 21 real-world scenario challenges, a major expansion over the previous edition.
The atmosphere quickly hit a fever pitch at the very beginning. In the 100-meter preliminary race during the opening ceremony, a robot clocked 9.39 seconds, breaking the human world record of 9.58 seconds. At a following demonstration of standing high jump, a robot competitor cleared 2.88 meters, while a free combat display saw a robot land a spinning kick that showcased remarkable body control.
The athletes' entrance also featured a massive phalanx of humanoid robots marching onto the stage, each one moving under independent control and computation while dynamically adjusting their postures to stay in formation.
Beyond the main arena, robot contestants have spent months testing their skills in real-world environments. Starting at Milan, where the 2026 Winter Olympics was held, the robots took part in challenges across China to pay tribute to the Olympic Torch Relay. After picking tea in east China's Fujian, racing dragon boats in southwest China's Sichuan, and practicing in horseback archery in northwest China's Xinjiang, the robots gathered at the event to bring training data and nation-wide expertise to the Beijing stage.
"It's been so great to see all of the many robots and the many different sports that they announced in the opening ceremony. These are getting more and more capable every single year with the jumps and flips and all of the moves. Come a long way in 12 months, yes, we are playing with more robots on the same fields, and with are playing with bigger fields. So its getting harder and harder every year," said Timothy Wiley, an audience from Australia.
Jiang Guangzhi, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, said the values of the Games are beyond a robot sport show.
"The World Humanoid Robot Games are not only a sporting arena but also a testing ground for new technologies. Compared with last year, this year's humanoid robots are more robust, more coordinated, more autonomous, more responsive, and more dexterous. We hope that through this platform, we can see the direction ahead and also explore a beautiful future of human-robot coexistence," he said.
Humanoids flex controllability, athleticism at 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing
