Robot Boxing, Football, and Sprinting: Live at the World Humanoid Games

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:53:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Chinese robots race, box and perform sports in the second world humanoid event—see the record‑speed sprint and the Ronaldo‑style celebration.

The second edition of the World Humanoid Games is underway in Beijing, bringing a bewildering mix of robot athletics to the world stage. Over 100 droids now compete in five days, setting a 100‑metre record faster than Usain Bolt’s best. Highlights include a robot mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” celebration on the football pitch and a boxing match that captured headlines. Robots are also tested in high‑jump, Tai Chi and table tennis, showing how metal bodies are adapting to human‑designed sports. The BBC’s China correspondent Stephen McDonell brings you the latest happenings and what they mean for the future of robotics.

Robot Boxing, Football and Sprinting at World Humanoid Games

The second edition of the World Humanoid Games (WHG) is underway in Beijing, China. The competition, which began on Saturday, runs for five days and has already seen a robot break the 100‑metre sprint record set by Usain Bolt.

In a dazzling display in the opening ceremony, a pair of droids marched in time alongside a rhythmic choreography while cheering crowds watched a robot deliver Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Siuuu” celebration on the football pitch.

Robots are competing in a host of other events—boxing, high‑jump, Tai Chi and table tennis—all of which showcase the rapid progress of humanoid technology and the breadth of sports that machines can now perform.

BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell reports from the city, highlighting how these competitions push the limits of robotics and spark conversation about the role of machines in sport and society.