Robot Falls, Fails and Funny Moments from China’s World Humanoid Games

Mon Aug 18 2025
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BEIJING, China: The robots came for gold and glory at the inaugural World Humanoid Games in Beijing, but it was the missteps, tumbles, and wipeouts that stole the show, drawing roars and laughter from the crowd.

Organisers say more than 500 humanoid robots participated in 26 events including boxing, football, track and field, and service-industry activities over three days. Robot competitions have been held for decades, but these games are the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers say. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, hoping to lead the industry. – Glenda Kwek, Ye Qian, Michael Zhang, Danni Zhu/AFPTV/AFP

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