The emergence of phygital sports marks a significant evolution in the world of athletics, merging traditional sports with digital gameplay to create an entirely new competitive arena. The term “phygital” stems from a blend of “physical” and “digital,” and it introduces a format where athletes compete both on physical fields and in digital simulations, blurring the lines between cybersport and traditional sports disciplines.

The concept of phygital sports led to the first Games of the Future, an innovative international tournament hosted in Kazan, Russia from 21 February to 3 March 2024. Russia, as the pioneer, set the stage for this cutting-edge event, aiming to redefine global sports by incorporating high-tech elements into classic sports formats. This inaugural tournament gathered over 2,000 athletes from more than 100 countries who competed in a range of phygital categories including soccer, basketball, tactical shooters, and virtual reality-based events.

The Games of the Future gained immediate acclaim as it highlighted the potential of phygital sports to unify players from diverse backgrounds, including professional athletes, esports champions, and streamers. At the close of the competition, Team Russia emerged as the overall victor, showcasing the host country’s strength in both traditional and digital sports disciplines.

Building on the success of the Russian-hosted event, the Games of the Future 2025 were announced to take place in Dubai, UAE. This choice reflects Dubai’s commitment to innovation and technology, positioning the city as a global hub for the fast-growing phygital movement. Dubai’s upcoming event will serve as part of the city’s broader Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033, a 10-year initiative aimed at attracting global talent in digital and phygital gaming and establishing a thriving community that merges sports with technology.

Amid the growing anticipation for Dubai 2025, Ghana’s eSports Federation has announced the country’s participation for the first time in the Games of the Future. Ghana will field athletes in Football-FC24 and Basketball-NBA, two phygital categories that align with the country’s strengths in both physical and esports disciplines. This marks an important milestone for Ghana as it joins the world stage in the innovative landscape of phygital sports, setting the country’s athletes up to compete in a new era that merges the physical intensity of sports with the strategic depth of digital gameplay.

As excitement builds, Ghana’s entry into the Games of the Future signifies the nation’s dedication to advancing its esports scene and supporting athletes in emerging sports technologies, bringing both pride and opportunity to Ghanaian competitors on this global platform.