ABU DHABI CONFIRMED AS HOST CITY FOR GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2025
ASPIRE appointed as UAE Delivery Authority for the Games of the Future: Abu Dhabi 2025
ABU DHABI, UAE, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phygital International, the global governing body for the Games of the Future (GOTF), has officially announced Abu Dhabi as the Host City for the Games of the Future 2025, taking place from 18-23 December.
Bringing together cutting-edge innovation and elite competition, the Games of the Future will transform Abu Dhabi into the epicenter of phygital sport and feature a dynamic fusion of physical athleticism and immersive digital gaming. The multi-sport event includes a variety of ground-breaking phygital disciplines, including Phygital Football and Phygital Shooter, as well as tech sports and esports.
Each phygital discipline sees athletes first compete in a digital version of their sport, followed by competing in the same sport in real-life. Final results are determined by combining performance across both stages - blending the physical and virtual into one seamless competitive experience.
ASPIRE, the driving force behind grand challenges and global competitions for Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), is appointed as the UAE Delivery Authority. In this role, ASPIRE will lead the delivery of the event's innovation agenda, ensure alignment across multiple stakeholders, and coordinate funding frameworks with government partners and sponsors.
Ethara, the region's leading live event management organization, will serve as the Event Delivery Partner, leading end-to-end execution including venue operations, logistics, and fan experience. In addition, Ethara will drive event promotion and play a key commercial role by securing sponsorships and partnerships to support the event's success. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) has been confirmed as the official venue, providing a world-class stage for the full spectrum of phygital sporting competitions and fan experiences.
"We're thrilled that Abu Dhabi will welcome thousands of phygital athletes, clubs, and fans for the Games of the Future 2025," said Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International."With its bold vision for sport and technology, the UAE is the ideal stage for this groundbreaking event. Since the inaugural Games, phygital sports have grown into a global movement, and this year's edition promises to be our most exciting yet."
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE said: "As the UAE Delivery Authority, ASPIRE is proud to help shape the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 - a global platform where sport, technology, and imagination converge. From AI-powered mobility to immersive digital experiences, Abu Dhabi is where innovation meets impact. We look forward to welcoming the world to ADNEC this December for an event that will inspire the future of sport and technology."
In addition to elite competitions, the event will feature virtual reality immersive fan engagement zones, cultural activations, and technology showcases. The inaugural edition of the Games of the Future, saw over 2,000 athletes from more than 100 countries take part, broadcast to global audience and attracting over 300,000 spectators and fans.
The Games of the Future: Abu Dhabi, 2025 marks a powerful next chapter for the phygital movement, bringing the Games to a new audience in the Middle East, where ambition, experimentation, and bold applications of technology thrive. With Abu Dhabi's unique blend of innovation and cultural dynamism, the stage is set for a one-of-a-kind global experience.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Korea Herald
COUNTDOWN TO THE GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2026 ASTANA BEGINS: DATES, DISCIPLINES AND MORE REVEALED
World's biggest phygital sports tournament set to be held in Kazakhstan capital from 18 July to 1 August 2026. The tournament is expected to welcome around 1,500 athletes, with events in 13 phygital disciplines hosted across the city. Athletes and clubs will compete for share of $10 million prize fund. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phygital International, promoter and rights holder of the Games of the Future (GOTF), has officially confirmed Astana as the host city for the 2026 edition, taking place from 18 July to 1 August 2026. The announcement was made during an official meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by a press conference led by the event's key representatives including Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International; and Alibek Khassenov, President of Kazsportinvest JSC. Renowned as the ultimate fusion of physical athleticism and digital gaming, the Games of the Future 2026 will transform Astana into a hub of elite competition and cutting-edge innovation. The 2026 edition will feature 13 disciplines, including fan-favorites like Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, and Phygital Shooter, while also showcasing the phygital versions for Hockey, Fighting (MMA and Boxing) and more. In each discipline, athletes first compete in a digital version of the sport to later switch to its physical counterpart; final results are determined by the combined performance across both stages. A $10 million prize fund is set to raise the stakes at GOTF 2026, drawing global attention and attracting top-tier talent. With around 1,500 participants expected to compete across multiple venues in Astana, the tournament marks a major milestone for the growing phygital movement. To further amplify its impact and highlight Kazakhstan's leadership in sport-tech and digital innovation, the city will host the Games of the Future City, a celebration of innovation featuring fan zones, interactive exhibitions, and community-driven tech activations. "The phygital format creates exciting new opportunities to engage talented youth in sports, aligning with the evolving expectations of the modern sports community. These innovative competition formats are shaping a dynamic and relevant agenda at the intersection of sports and technology" emphasized Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism of Kazakhstan. "Astana is a city that embodies the spirit of the future. With its world-class infrastructure, proven track record in hosting global events, and deep investment in youth and technology, Astana is the perfect stage to help shape the future of phygital sport on the global stage," commented Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International. Kazakhstan was selected as the host for 2026 by the Phygital International Expert Committee following a competitive international bidding process in late 2024. Kazsportinvest JSC - whose track record includes the Asian Winter Games 2011, 2017 Winter Universiade, and World Nomad Games. Astana 2024 - has been appointed to organize and deliver the event, bringing deep expertise in producing high-profile sporting competitions. "This tournament has tremendous international potential and stands as a flagship event in the emerging world of phygital sports. Technology is rapidly reshaping the future of sport, and the Games of the Future represents a unique opportunity for us to contribute meaningfully to its evolution and help generate global excitement around this exciting new frontier of competition," said Alibek Khassenov, President of Kazsportinvest JSC. While the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana are still a year away, anticipation continues to build as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the 2025 edition from December 18 to 23. Following the successful debut of the tournament in 2024, Abu Dhabi is ready to deliver another unparalleled global showcase of phygital sports. The event will blend the best of phygital sports and technological innovation, bringing together thousands of athletes and fans from the global phygital community, paving the way for Astana to carry the momentum forward in 2026. About Phygital International (PI): Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city. For further information please visit: About the Games of the Future (GOFT): The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in Abu Dhabi while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana. For more information please visit: About the World Phygital Community (WPC): The World Phygital Community (WPC) is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital members globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting the qualifying rankings tournament for the Games of the Future:
Korea Herald
27-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Gravity Officially Launches PC Version of Critically Acclaimed Roguelike Text Adventure Shambles: Sons of the Apocalypse on Steam®!
- Fresh off a successful mobile debut, Shambles: Sons of the Apocalypse has quickly risen to the #2 spot on Google Play's Top Paid Games chart, confirming the strong pre-release buzz from players and media alike. - The Steam® edition delivers the full base game bundled with seven DLC packs and introduces a challenging new difficulty setting. Additional post-launch content is already on the horizon, including previously inaccessible zones set to be unlocked in future updates. - To celebrate its Steam® launch, Shambles is now available with a limited-time launch discount, running through July 10. SEOUL, South Korea, June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global publisher Gravity officially rolled out the PC version of the roguelike text adventure Shambles: Sons of the Apocalypse (hereafter Shambles), developed by EXRIX, on Steam® on June 26. Shambles offers a unique gameplay experience that combines text-driven RPG mechanics, card deck-building elements, and the deep replayability expected from the roguelike genre. Players shape their journey through branching narratives, where in-game decisions directly influence the protagonist's fate. Combat plays out in turn-based encounters, relying on skills and cards carefully curated from the player's starting deck. As players delve deeper, they can build their character through stat upgrades, gear collection, and other progression systems. The newly released PC version is the definitive edition, featuring the base game, all seven DLC packs, refined game balance, and a new difficulty level designed for veteran players. Additional content updates are already in the pipeline, promising the discovery of hidden areas and expanded story content. Following its global mobile launch in March, Shambles has continued to gain traction among players. The game climbed to #2 on Korea's Google Play Top Paid Games chart and currently holds an outstanding 4.7/5 user rating. Even ahead of its release, Shambles was already being recognized for its polish and gameplay depth, placing in the Top 10 at the Google Indie Game Festival and earning the #1 spot in player reviews at the event. It has since won multiple accolades, including the Grand Prize at the BIC Festival, Game of the Month from Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and honors at the G-STAR Indie Game Awards. The PC edition of Shambles is now available globally on Steam®, priced at USD 19.99. The game features full language support for Korean, English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. A 10% launch discount is available through July 10. Jun Yoo, Head of Console Business at Gravity, stated, "We believe Shambles has garnered such positive feedback due to its unique genre blend and rich storytelling, which has truly resonated through word-of-mouth. The newly released PC version not only includes the full main game and all DLC content but also features a new difficulty mode for an even more thrilling gameplay experience." He added, "We will continue our commitment to discovering and introducing a wide variety of creative and engaging titles like Shambles. We ask for your continued interest and support for the PC version of Shambles as well." For more information on the official Steam® launch of Shambles, visit the official website( or the Steam Store page (
Korea Herald
22-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Iconic Olympic balloon rises again in Paris
PARIS (AFP) — A giant balloon that became a popular landmark over the skies of Paris during the 2024 Olympics rose again Saturday evening, as Parisians celebrated an annual street music festival. As locals danced to live music in and around the Tuileries garden in central Paris, the balloon made its return on a hot summer evening. Organizers are hoping it will once again attract crowds of tourists. During the Games, the Olympic cauldron was tethered to the balloon, flying above the Tuileries garden at sunset every day. Thousands flocked to see the 7-meter-wide ring of electric fire. Last summer's version "had been thought up to last for the length of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the cauldron. After President Emmanuel Macron "decided to bring it back, all of the technical aspects needed to be reviewed," he told Agence France-Presse on Thursday. Lehanneur said he was "very moved" that the Olympic balloon was making a comeback. "The worst thing would have been for this memory to become a sitting relic that couldn't fly anymore," he said. The balloon's return on Saturday kicks off a daily appearance each evening until Sept. 14 — a summer staple every year until the 2028 Los Angeles Games. "For its revival, we needed to make sure it changed as little as possible and that everything that did change was not visible," said Lehanneur. With a decarbonated fire patented by French energy giant EDF, the upgraded balloon follows "the same technical principles" as its previous version, said director of innovation at EDF, Julien Villeret. The improved attraction "will last ten times longer" and be able to function for "300 days instead of 30," according to Villeret. The creators of the balloon also reinforced the light-and-mist system that "makes the flames dance," he said. Under the cauldron, a machine room hides cables, a compressor and a hydro-electric winch. That system will "hold back the helium balloon when it rises and pull it down during descent," said Jerome Giacomoni, president of the Aerophile group that constructed the balloon. "Filled with 6,200 cubic meters of helium that is lighter than air," the Olympic balloon "will be able to lift around 3 tons" of cauldron, cables and attached parts, he said. The Tuileries garden is where French inventor Jacques Charles took flight in his first gas balloon on Dec. 1, 1783. He followed in the footsteps of the famed Montgolfier brothers, who had just nine days earlier elsewhere in Paris, managed to launch a similar balloon into the sky with humans onboard. The website is to display the times when the modern-day balloon will rise and indicate any potential cancellations due to weather.
