China has a huge available labor force, but robots have joined about 30,000 volunteers at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Four-legged robot dogs served as transporters in athletics events held through Wednesday at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, bringing back javelins and discuses to athletes from where they landed.

A discus-carrying four-legged robot operates during discus-throwing competitions at the Asian Games at an athletic field in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 1, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"It's cute. I saw that type for the first time," said Marina Saito, who competed in women's javelin throw.

About 50 robots are operating at competition venues such as for athletics and badminton, according to Chinese media. Some robots can even dance in groups to entertain spectators.

For the Hangzhou Asian Games, volunteers, often called "unsung heroes," were selected from 317,000 applications, organizers said.

Newspaper delivery robots operate at the main media center for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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