What do runner Usain Bolt, footballer Lionel Messi, actress Gal Gadot and comedian Kevin Hart all have in common? They have all been chosen as draft picks for the Harlem Globetrotters!
And Phygital International was honored to join such famous company recently when we met up with the legends of the basketball world on their world tour.
The Globetrotters are celebrating their 100th anniversary and hosted a special event in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece, that attracted thousands of excited fans and delivered their usual high-energy mix of sport, entertainment and audience interaction.
So why was Phygital International involved? It’s thanks to a broad collaboration framework that has been agreed with the Harlem Globetrotters during their stop in Greece.
The event, which attracted more than 10,000 spectators, was held at the Telecom Center Indoor Hall in Athens. The venue – one of Greece’s most well-known indoor arenas – is also due to host the upcoming EuroLeague Final Four, further highlighting its importance within the international basketball calendar.
The new collaboration reflects a growing alignment between phygital sport and large-scale live entertainment formats. Events on this scale create valuable opportunities to connect with new audiences and explore how hybrid sport experiences can integrate within broader sports and entertainment ecosystems.
With strong attendance and high levels of fan engagement, the Athens show once again demonstrated the appeal of live sports entertainment, while offering a relevant platform for visibility and audience interaction for phygital sports.
As phygital sport continues to expand globally, collaborations across major events and entertainment properties remain an important step in strengthening awareness and positioning within the international sports landscape.