A Letter from our Newly Appointed Chairperson: A Defining Year for Phygital Sports
Dear WPC members,
I’m honored to introduce myself to you for the first time as the Chairperson of the World Phygital Community (WPC). I’m excited to build this incredible community and meet even more of you as we work together to take phygital to the next level.
In less than a year since the creation of the WPC, nearly 100 WPC members worldwide have achieved incredible milestones, surpassing expectations and demonstrating the immense enthusiasm & momentum behind our global phygital movement.
The recent WPC Tournaments (GOTF Majors), which culminated on January 30th, were a testament to that momentum. These action-packed rounds are the first of their kind to advance teams to the GOTF qualifiers and the global championship, The Games of the Future. They delivered not only intense competition but also some remarkable numbers. Thirty-five of our WPC members hosted events welcoming more than 1,000 clubs.
The competition was fierce across multiple disciplines with 62 GOTF Majors taking place including:
- 26 Phygital Football
- 15 Phygital Basketball
- 14 Phygital Dancing
- 7 Phygital Shooter
This level of participation is truly phenomenal and has exceeded all expectations.
The GOTF Majors also had an impressive global reach with the phygital movement spanning the Americas from Buenos Aires to New York City, across nine African nations from South Africa to Mali, throughout Europe (particularly the Balkan region), and into the Gulf and Central Asia.
During the competition, we witnessed some fantastic stories from our WPC members. In Uruguay, the renowned Peñarol Football Club, featuring both football pros and esports athletes, entered their local GOTF Majors tournament to defend their Phygital Football Games of the Future crown.
Then there are the personal triumphs, like that of 27-year-old Dutch dancer Dion Visser. With just a moment’s notice, Dion rushed across Europe to compete — and win — at the GOTF Majors in Montenegro.
“It was the best decision of my life!” says Dion. “I met so many amazing people and took another step towards The Games of the Future 2025. I really feel like a professional competitor now, and it’s incredible to be part of this world.”
The dedication and hard work of our WPC members in organizing and hosting the GOTF Majors have been truly inspiring. We’ve been highlighting some of the most memorable moments from events in Mexico, Bosnia, and Montenegro on this website, with more to be added soon. So be sure to check out these stories to gain insight into the experiences and successes of our community.
In a couple of weeks, we will again workshop together to learn from your experiences organizing the GOTF Majors. We will talk about what worked and what didn’t, and come to some conclusion over improved practices moving forward.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on the 2025 Games of the Future, the pinnacle of the phygital sporting calendar. We’re counting down to the big event in the UAE, set to kick off on November 14th. For every competitor who took part in the recent GOTF Minors and Majors, this is the ultimate goal — the chance to be crowned a champion at The Games of the Future.
But there’s still one final challenge ahead. So, stay tuned for a major announcement regarding the Games of the Future Qualifiers coming soon.
The future is bright. The future is phygital!
Dan Merkley
Chairperson, World Phygital Community
