World Humanoid Robot Games Debut with Competitions in Soccer, Combat, Dance, and More

Reported on August 15, the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games officially commenced, marking the first international multi-sport event exclusively focused on humanoid robotics. The opening ceremony was held on August 14 at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, known as the “Ice Ribbon.” The event brings together 280 teams from 16 nations to compete in 487 matches across 26 disciplines. These are organized into four main categories: competitive sports, performance exhibitions, scenario-based challenges, and auxiliary events, all designed to highlight robotic capabilities in decision-making and coordinated movement.

China’s leading robotics firms—including Tiangong, Unitree Robotics, Accelerated Evolution, Songyan Dynamics, Fourier, and Xinghaitu—are joined by international teams from countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. Academic institutions participating include Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and others, along with secondary schools such as Beijing No.11 School and the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China.

Running from August 15 to 17, the Games feature 18 core events across competitive, performance, and scenario categories, with additional contests in badminton, basketball, and table tennis. Competitive matches include sprinting, high jump, long jump, gymnastics, and team soccer formats. Performance segments showcase dance routines, martial arts, and improvisational challenges, emphasizing real-time coordination and group control.

The opening ceremony mirrored traditional human sporting events, with robots marching to national anthems and taking referee oaths alongside human officials. Joint performances featured robots and humans in music, dance, fashion, opera, and instrumental showcases. Models from Unitree Robotics, Songyan Dynamics, Joyeed, Leju, and UAI Intelligence participated, highlighting the technological artistry of the event.

Zhao Dongwei, Chairman of Beiao Group and Director of Market Development for the organizing committee, noted that humanoid robots were the focal point of the ceremony. Robotic bands, dancers, and flag-bearers created a unified visual experience. Tiangong Ultra, Songyan Dynamics N2, and Joyeed Walker II were selected as flag-bearers based on their performance in a recent half-marathon demonstration.

Accelerated Evolution’s Booster T1 and K1 units led a synchronized dance routine, followed by a 5×5 formation march featuring 25 Booster T1 robots—winners of the 2025 RoboCup in Brazil. Zhao Weichen, Vice President of Accelerated Evolution, emphasized that this was the first autonomous formation march by humanoid robots, achieved without external control. The feat required precise coordination, real-time communication, and advanced motion control with minimal error tolerance.

Observers noted final calibrations by U.S. and German teams on their Booster K1 units, praising the platform’s stability and adaptability. Zhao Weichen added that Accelerated Evolution is supporting over 40 international teams with hardware and technical services, underscoring China’s leadership in humanoid robotics.

The cultural segment, titled “Wisdom in Harmony,” featured UBTECH’s panda robot Youyou and Leju’s humanoid Kuafu performing Tai Chi alongside young martial artists. Youyou, standing 1.3 meters tall and weighing 63 kilograms, was inspired by China’s national symbol.

Star Era introduced its StarQ5 wheeled humanoid service robot to the athletic lineup. Founder and CEO Chen Jianyu explained that sports offer immediate applications for their technology, enhancing audience engagement through interactive and support functions.

Scenario-based competitions simulate real-world environments such as factories, hospitals, warehouses, and hotels. Tasks include material handling, pharmaceutical sorting, and cleaning services. Demonstrations included hotel reception and medical sorting, chosen for their demand and need for precision.

Gao Haichuan, CEO of Qianjue Technology, described his team from Tsinghua University’s VIPLab competing in hotel cleaning using two Ruilman RMC-LA robots. These units, measuring 168 cm and weighing 76 kg, operate on wheeled platforms with seven degrees of freedom. Gao emphasized their reliability and autonomous decision-making in dynamic environments.

Chen Jianyu reported that Star Era’s robots currently operate at over 70% of human efficiency in industrial settings, with performance expected to exceed 90% next year through ongoing algorithmic and engineering improvements.

Zhao Weichen highlighted the importance of high-pressure scenarios like soccer for testing real-time perception, multi-agent coordination, and collision avoidance—skills essential for safe human-robot interaction. He noted that field failures offer more valuable insights than controlled lab simulations.

Despite rapid advancements, embodied intelligence remains in its early stages. Li Junlan, Research Manager at IDC China, observed that most efforts are still in pilot phases. She stressed the importance of improving system flexibility, collaboration efficiency, and operational safety, noting China’s robust robotics ecosystem but emphasizing the need for commercially viable applications.

Tian Feng, Director of the Fast and Slow Thinking Research Institute and former head of SenseTime’s Intelligent Industry Research Institute, outlined three phases of robotic evolution: autonomous movement, autonomous cognition and decision-making, and autonomous self-modification. He likened the current stage to the early mobile internet era, with fast-developing infrastructure but no dominant business models. Tian predicted technical convergence within three years and scalable commercial models within five, contingent on solving real-world problems in targeted scenarios.