Alibaba hosts the first-ever Robot Sports Meet at its global headquarters in Hangzhou. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Ahead of International Olympic Day on June 23, Alibaba hosted the first-ever Robot Sports Meet at its global headquarters in Hangzhou on June 21.

For the first time, robots joined employees and enthusiasts in celebrating the Olympic spirit — through speed, strength, agility, and even talent shows.

Over 10 robots — ranging from bipedal runners to wheeled performers — competed in 50-meter sprints, obstacle courses, high jumps, and relay races. Standouts included "Kuangchizhe" from China University of Mining and Technology, who cleared a 30-centimeter high jump, and the agile mini-humanoid from the Tongji University team, winner of the obstacle race and third place overall.

Tech influencers like Zhang Zihao demonstrated how AI models like Alibaba's Qwen are now used to train robot actions via natural language inputs. His team's small robot, equipped with 23 degrees of freedom, can run marathons, play football, and execute dynamic tasks — even in harsh environments.

Hangzhou's young minds also joined in. Students from Yungu High School brought their three-week-old wheeled robot "Guhuozai" to compete. Despite a last-minute technical breakdown, they repaired it overnight to ensure it made it to the starting line — earning them the event's talent award.

Companies like Zhejiang University's Mirror Me Technology also impressed with "Apollo", a robotic dog that claimed the 50-meter sprint title. Their other robot "Black Panther" holds the record for the world's fastest quadruped robot, clocking 10 meters per second.

Organized by Alibaba's Olympic Marketing team, the event aims to blend technology and sports while encouraging public engagement with AI and robotics. "We hope to inspire more people to explore the world of tech," said organizer Rao Jie.

For the robots and their creators, it's not just a race — it's a glimpse into the future of intelligent movement.

Robots compete in a race. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]