Photo: Courtesy of organizers

With just seven days to go before the Chengdu World Games, 20 cutting-edge technologies and smart devices that will serve the upcoming international sports event were unveiled on a "futuristic tech" day in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the organizers told the Global Times on Thursday. 

At the exhibition site on Tuesday, a range of technological innovations such as humanoid robots and high-tech cooling gears stood ready to empower the Games, which will run from August 7 to 17. 

As an international event featuring athletes from all over the world, language barriers have always posed a challenge. This year, however, the World Games offers a creative solution. Visitors wearing smart translation glasses will be able to see real-time Chinese-to-English translations, displayed in soft green light directly on their lenses. 

Liu Yu, a representative from INMO, one of the leading Chinese companies in smart glasses, told the Global Times that international influencer IShowSpeed previously tested its GO2 translation glasses and was amazed by the real-time translation feature. Now, 20 units of the company's "GO" series real-time interpretation glasses, capable of simultaneous translation in over 40 languages, will be deployed at the Games. Through AR lenses, wearers can view translated text instantly, enabling seamless cross-language communication, Liu said. 

Another intelligent translation intercom system, supporting two-way communication in 75 languages via dual-screen interaction, further facilitates smooth conversations among athletes from different countries.

Two robots will be responsible for patrol and inspection in the athletes' village, as well as venue guiding and interactive performances. One of them is a bipedal robot, Tangba, equipped with a 19-inch large screen; its name is derived from Tangba Street in Chengdu, the organizers said. 

During the Games, the Tangba robot will perform cheerleading dances alongside dancers on the same stage. "Thanks to its modular interface, it can quickly transform into local cultural IP images such as a giant panda and Sichuan Opera masks," Tian Min, a staff member at the Chengdu Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, told the Global Times.

There are also some intelligent devices that can enrich the athletes' and visitors' experiences during the Games. 

High-tech cooling gears, including a radiation-cooled fisherman hat that can lower body temperature by 5 to 8 C and cooling vests, aim to ease outdoor discomfort for athletes and spectators alike.

Using an AI-powered manicure machine, it takes just five seconds for a DIY design to be precisely printed onto a user's fingernail. This quick-custom nail art device will provide athletes and visitors with personalized services. Many designs featuring Chinese elements such as the Chinese knot, giant panda, and bamboo have been launched. In addition, athletes can also upload their own images to create truly unique, customized looks, according to the organizers at the exhibition site. 

The Smart Sports Interaction Zone, an AI intelligent interactive sports terminal device, will provide athletes with both leisure entertainment and professional training support, Zhang Yimo, technical director of Guangyao Hengtuo Technology, told the Global Times.

This innovative product integrates advanced technologies such as visual tracking, large-screen multi-touch, and impact-resistant LED displays. The screen can withstand hits from balls traveling at speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and has passed tens of thousands of durability tests. It supports interactive play for a number of ball sports, including squash, tennis, football, basketball, and volleyball, Zhang said. 

While meeting the precise training needs of professional athletes, its gamified design also lowers the barrier for public participation, Zhang noted.

Sustainability is another highlight of the exhibition event. "Eco Guardian," a green smart toilet system is being introduced to the Games. Using biodegradation and IoT technologies, the system is automated and odor-free, running 24/7 without the need for human maintenance.

Meanwhile, the "Big Mouth Frog" carbon recycling bin rewards users with carbon points for depositing plastic bottles, which can be used to redeem Games merchandise. Powered by edge computing and blockchain technology, the device enables traceable carbon data and can process over 2,000 bottles per day - contributing to the vision of a zero-carbon World Games.

The Chengdu Games will feature 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 events. A total of 321 Chinese athletes will compete in 152 events across 28 sports, marking China's largest participation in the history of the Games.