The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing on Saturday evening, with a record-breaking 2,056 robots from 666 teams competing in categories including sports, emergency rescue and logistics.

The event began with a robot showcasing its prowess in the 100-meter dash, clocking an impressive 9.39 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds.

Additionally, a robot demonstrated its high jump capabilities, leaping from last year's best of 95.64 cm to an astounding 2.88 meters this year. 

The opening ceremony featured a prelude where dozens of humanoid robots with agile fingers performed alongside a human orchestra.

This diverse display highlighted cutting-edge achievements in Chinese humanoid robotics, offering the audience a technologically immersive audio-visual feast.

During the ceremony, thousands of robots performed together.

Humanoid robots also collaborated with energetic children, presenting a vision of the future where robots transition from laboratories to competitive arenas and eventually to real-world applications, illustrating the iterative upgrade and harmonious coexistence of humans and machines.

In a unique showcase, humanoid robots competed in table tennis with renowned athletes, including tennis player Zheng Jie, Olympic table tennis champion Ding Ning and football player Yang Chen.

In a nod to the Olympic torch relay, the opening ceremony also featured robots lighting the symbolic flame.

Following the ceremony, preliminary heats for the humanoid robot 100-meter and 400-meter races commenced.

The games run until Wednesday.

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Zhang Rui