ISTANBUL

China on Friday kicked off the world's first humanoid games in Beijing, with over 250 teams from 16 countries competing.

The games' opening ceremony featured humanoid robots performing hip-hop dancing, martial arts, musical instruments, and Chinese opera, as well as 3v3 and 5v5 football matches and robot boxing, the state-run China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported.

The event drew participants and spectators from robotics companies, universities, hobbyist clubs, and technology enthusiasts.

Some 280 teams from 16 countries, including the US, Germany, and Italy, are competing against over 500 humanoid robots at 26 events at the National Speed Skating Oval, which range from athletic challenges like running to skills-based tasks like drug sorting and cleaning.

The three-day contest is scheduled to end on Sunday.