China kicked off the three-day long World Humanoid Robot Games on Friday, looking to showcase its advances in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries.

But the robots had other plans. During soccer matches, four mechanical players crashed into each other and collapsed in a tangled heap of metal limbs.

Some of the humanoids' sporting displays were more comical than skillful - but we might not be laughing at them for long. | ITV National News

A video (top) features some of the robots in action on the first day. A running contest, for example, shows several of the bipedal-bots racing along a track at impressive speed, although one of the competitors clearly has trouble sticking to its lane.

China’s technological ambitions took center stage at the World Humanoid Robot Games, a three-day event that began on Friday in Beijing. This “Robot Olympics” brought together 280 teams from 16 countries to compete in a unique blend of sports and technical challenges, highlighting the nation’s advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics.

Robots are taking everyone's jobs -- and apparently even Olympic athletes aren't safe, 'cause a major ath-tech-ic competition kicked off in China ... with every microchip gunning for a championship!!