AUGUST 2026
Game changers
We look back at the 12 days of top-flight competition, celebration and excitement that was Games of the Future Astana 2026 – and speak to Phygital International’s new CEO about what lies ahead for phygital sport’s biggest tournament.
In this issue
Watch: All the highlights from GOTF Astana 2026
They were 12 days of joy and heartbreak, celebrations and tantrums, rattled nerves and sighs of relief – but most of all,…
12 incredible days of triumph and tears
On 9 August, Games of the Future Astana 2026 powered by Samruk-Kazyna officially wrapped after 12 days of world-class phygital competition. More…
Phygital's next generation of sporting stars – in their own words
Four teenage winners of last year's Phygital School Games swapped the classroom for the arena this summer, flying to Astana to watch…
Phygital Summit – tech can't replace human connection
At first glance, the Phygital Sports Summit 2026 looked like a showcase for what technology can do to sport: AI-driven fan platforms,…
Inside the phenomenal rise of Phygital Dancing
It's accessible, has global appeal and makes exercising fun – Phygital Dancing is becoming one of the world's most popular phygital disciplines.…
"Traditional sports aren't moving quickly enough”
Alibaba Cloud's Dipesh Makwana talks about the computing giant's new multi-year sponsorship deal with Games of the Future and why phygital is…
How PI is putting together a global broadcaster network
Phygital sport doesn't yet have a single dominant market the way football has Europe or basketball has the US. Instead, PI's media…
Daniel Merkley, PI's new CEO, sets out his vision for the future
After leading the World Phygital Community for the past two years, Daniel Merkley is now in the driving seat at Phygital International.…
