Beijing hosts second World Humanoid Robot Games with 2,056 robots

Beijing opened the second World Humanoid Robot Games on Saturday, bringing together 666 teams and 2,056 humanoid robots for a five-day competition at the National Speed Skating Oval, known as the 'Ice Ribbon'. The event features 51 events and 1,301 competitive sessions, up from 487 in the first edition Source: La Vanguardia. Despite the 'World' label, participation remains overwhelmingly Chinese: 641 of 666 delegations and 1,975 of 2,056 robots come from China, with 25 foreign teams from 16 countries, including the US, Germany, and Japan Source: Infobae. The number of foreign teams rose 56% from last year Source: La Vanguardia.

Program highlights

The program splits into 30 competitive events and 21 scenario-based tests designed to simulate real-world tasks such as industrial production, home assistance, hotel service, emergency response, and EV charging Source: Infobae. New additions include a dedicated robotic hand challenge and a pentathlon mixing races with practical tasks Source: La Vanguardia. During the opening ceremony, robots demonstrated football free kicks, tennis, high jump, and even operated a TV camera Source: Infobae.

Notable performances

One standout was 'Tiangong Ultra', which ran the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds during a preliminary heat—faster than Usain Bolt's human world record of 9.58 seconds, though conditions are not comparable Source: Portafolio. In April, the robot 'Shandian' completed the Beijing half-marathon in 50 minutes 26 seconds, below the human record of 57 minutes 20 seconds, also under different conditions Source: Portafolio.

Strategic context

The games reflect China's push to make robotics a strategic industry. Competitions evolved from low-budget university events (1999–2014) to state-backed showcases since the 2015 World Robot Conference, where President Xi Jinping called technology the 'jewel of the crown' of advanced manufacturing Source: Portafolio. The focus now shifts from demonstrating mobility to proving real-world utility in productive and service environments Source: Portafolio.