Phygital International (PI) is the global promoter of phygital sport – the fast-growing movement that fuses physical athletic competition with digital gaming. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, PI is the custodian and rights holder of the sport’s biggest event, the Games of the Future, and works alongside the independent, non-profit World Phygital Community (WPC) to grow phygital sport across 120+ countries worldwide.
Our story
The team who conceived the idea of combining physical and digital sport – among them Nis Hatt, René Fasel, Philippe Blanchard and others – spent more than a decade developing the concept. During this development phase, over 19 nations were approached and expressed interest in hosting a public phygital tournament, with the inaugural proof-of-concept event held in in Kazan in February 2024. Following this 
testing phase, Phygital International was established in 2024 to become the permanent custodian of the Games of the Future, charged with internationalizing the brand. It sits alongside the not-for-profit World Phygital Community (WPC), which launched its global membership program on 15 July 2024. Together, these two independent bodies – headquartered in the UAE and Hong Kong respectively – govern the sport worldwide.
Under PI’s oversight the 2025 edition of Games of the Future brought phygital sport to a truly global stage for the first ever time. Taking place in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, it moved the sport beyond the proof of concept seen previously, into an international sporting spectacular. The next edition takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan from 29 July– 9 August 2026[KF2.1]. Each edition is awarded through an open, competitive bidding process overseen by Phygital International.
How phygital sport is governed
Three pillars make up the phygital ecosystem, each with a distinct and independent role:
| Organization | Role | Structure |
|---|---|---|
|
Phygital International (PI)
|
Global promoter of phygital sport.
Custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future; runs the host city bidding process and develops new disciplines via the PI Lab. |
Commercially run.
Headquartered in the UAE. Funded through hosting licenses, sponsorship and commercial partnerships. |
|
World Phygital Community (WPC)
|
Non-profit uniting the global phygital community.
Guardian of the sport’s rules and regulations. Runs the Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals qualifying tournaments. |
Not-for-profit, member-funded.
Headquartered in Hong Kong. 120 members in 116 countries. |
|
Games of the Future (GOTF)
|
The annual flagship event and pinnacle of phygital sport — an international, multi‑discipline tournament held in a different host city each year.
|
Owned by no single country or government.
Brand custodian: Phygital International. Funded by the host city and its commercial partners. |
No government owns, directs or controls the Games of the Future, and no single organization or country holds an ownership stake in the event. Each edition is licensed to, funded by, and delivered together with its host city.
How athletes and clubs qualify
- Phygital Origins – grassroots tournaments hosted by WPC members in cities and regions worldwide.
- Phygital Rivals – national tournaments between Origins winners within each country.
- Phygital Contenders – a single global qualifier where top-ranked clubs compete for the final places.
- Games of the Future – the world stage, open to qualifiers, direct invitations, host-city nominees and defending champions.
The Games of the Future is open to competitors aged 16 and over, of any gender or nationality, who progress through this qualification pathway.
Leadership
Dan Merkley – Chief Executive Officer, Phygital International
Dan Merkley spent over 20 years leading Olympic and Paralympic Village operations worldwide, from Salt Lake City 2002 through Rio 2016’s record-setting 18,225-bed village. He directed teams of thousands, and shaped housing for record numbers of athletes and delegations in Sochi, Vancouver, and Torino. Beyond the Olympics, he’s advised the IOC, EOC, and organizing committees worldwide, including Qatar’s FIFA 2022 accommodation strategy.
René Fasel – Founder, Phygital International
This former President of the International Ice Hockey Federation is also a founding father of the phygital movement and the creator of the official WPC phygital rules and regulations that underpin phygital sports. In June 1995, he was appointed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and served as the President of the Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) between 2002 and 2014. He was also named the chairman of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Co-ordination Committee and served for two four-year terms (2008-2016) as winter sports representative on the IOC Executive Board.[KF3.1]
David Feng – Chairman, World Phygital Community
David Feng brings more than two decades of expertise in worldwide event marketing and hospitality management to his work. Serving as Protocol, Event and Hospitality Manager for the IOC, he executed premier programs across four Olympic Games – Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, and Sochi 2014 – overseeing guest services for upwards of 10,000 attendees at each edition. Born in Beijing and now residing in Switzerland, David has partnered with government bodies, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, and leading global brands throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
Frequently asked questions
What is Phygital International?
Phygital International is the global promoter of phygital sport. Headquartered in the UAE, it is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city.
Who owns the Games of the Future?
Each edition is funded by its host city and commercial partners, with governance and intellectual property held solely by Phygital International.
Is the Games of the Future politically affiliated?
No. The Games of the Future is designed as a non-political, global sporting platform. Attendance by any public official at an edition of the Games does not imply endorsement of any government, policy or action, and does not affect the independence of the organization’s governance.
Where and when is the next Games of the Future?
All the details of the next Games of the Future can be found here.
How can my country or city host the Games of the Future?
Any city may bid to host. The selection process follows a structured application with clear timelines and requirements, reviewed by an expert panel to ensure fairness and transparency.
How do athletes and clubs qualify to compete?
Athletes and clubs progress to the Games of the Future through a three-stage pathway – Phygital Origins, Phygital Rivals, Phygital Contenders – which are run jointly by the World Phygital Community and Phygital International. Some places are also awarded via direct invitation, host-city nomination, or automatic qualification for defending champions.
What is the difference between Phygital International and the World Phygital Community?
Phygital International is a commercially run global promoter of phygital sport and the rights holder of the Games of the Future. The World Phygital Community is an independent, non-profit, member-funded organization that safeguards the sport’s rules and regulations and runs the qualifying tournament calendar. The two organizations work together but are structured, governed and financed separately.