World’s first Humanoid Robot Games set for August debut in Beijing

The games will take place from Aug. 15-17 at two venues, the National Stadium and the National Speed Skating Oval, according to Chinese broadcaster CGTN.

The main competition will include 11 events modeled after human sports, along with artistic performances such as solo and group dance routines. The event aims to highlight advances in robotics while promoting a vision of human-robot coexistence, said Zhang Hua from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports.

"By mimicking human movement, the mechanical structure optimization and motion algorithm will be enhanced, demonstrating continuous progress in robotics technology and a harmonious vision of robots and humans coexisting," Zhang was quoted as saying by the Global Times.

China Unitree's humanoid robots in a boxing bout. Photo courtesy of Unitree Robotics

In addition to athletic contests, robots will face scenario-based challenges in simulated environments such as factories, hospitals, and hotels. Tasks will include material handling, medication sorting, guest reception, and cleaning, designed to test adaptability, intelligence, and real-world utility.

Participating robots must be independently developed or acquired by their teams. Each must have a torso, two legs, and upper limbs, with a center of mass between 40% and 70% of total height. Wheeled or bipedal movement is allowed in scenario-based events, but swapping robots mid-event is prohibited.

The games will follow the 2025 World Robot Conference, scheduled for Aug. 8 to 12 in Beijing. Chen Ying, vice president and secretary-general of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, said the conference will host over 30 international organizations, more than 100 global teams, and over 20% international exhibitors, according to China Daily.

This marks Beijing’s second major humanoid robot sports event after the inaugural humanoid half-marathon held on April 19. In that race, the "Tiangong Ultra" robot, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, completed the course in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.

Only six of the 21 entrants finished the race. The rest were forced to withdraw due to technical issues such as battery failure, overheating, and structural malfunctions, including detached limbs and heads, according to Interesting Engineering.