China Hosts World’s First Humanoid Robot Games

The event, which blends entertainment with research, focused on how machines perform tasks that reflect everyday human activities. Robots take part in sports competitions such as table tennis and track races, while also tackling jobs designed specifically for machines, such as sorting medication, moving materials, and cleaning. Colombia News reported.

Organizers stated that the goal was to explore practical uses for humanoid robots while also collecting performance data that may help shape the next generation of industrial robotics.

Most of the robots used in the event were designed and built in China. Domestic companies such as Unitree, Fourier Intelligence, and Booster Robotics supplied many of the machines on display. Of the 280 participating teams, 192 came from universities, while 88 represented private companies.

Robot football proved to be a crowd favorite. Although the matches didn’t always go as planned — with frequent slips, falls, and even a chaotic four-robot collision mid-game — audiences responded with cheers, laughter, and applause. In the 1,500-meter race, a robot running at full speed suddenly crashed, triggering a mix of concern and amazement from spectators.

Despite the occasional setbacks, many robots were able to get back on their feet without human help, showcasing improvements in balance, mobility, and recovery. Others received quick assistance from their support teams.

Max Polter, who works with the HTWK Robots team from Leipzig University of Applied Sciences in Germany, said the competition offered valuable insight for researchers. He explained that live testing, even with technical failures, often leads to faster learning than developing costly prototypes in labs.