Inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games step into the spotlight - The Robot Report

The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games 2025 took place at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, featuring 280 teams from 16 countries competing in 487 contests across 26 events. The competition included races, mixed martial arts, soccer, and a warehouse material sorting challenge that tested robots’ embodied AI, perception, and problem-solving skills. While many robots were teleoperated rather than fully autonomous, the event showcased both commercial and experimental humanoid robots, with Unitree Robotics’ H1 humanoid winning multiple foot races and setting a new world record in the 1,500 m event. Notably, an autonomous robot was awarded first place in the 100 m sprint after applying a time-coefficient advantage for autonomy. A key outcome of the event was the creation of the World Humanoid Robot Sports Federation, which will govern future humanoid robot competitions. The games highlighted the current state of humanoid robotics, balancing teleoperation and autonomy, and emphasized real-world applications such as logistics and