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Have you ever wondered what it takes to develop the next generation of phygital athletes? For Dalibor Marinovic, General Secretary of Phygital Serbia, the answer begins with finding the right balance between physical ability, gaming skills, and a willingness to learn.
As phygital sport continues to develop, Marinovic believes schools can play a key role in introducing young people to this new competitive format. By bringing together children with different interests, school tournaments can help build teamwork, encourage physical activity, and create pathways for future athletes.
We spoke with Dalibor about what makes a great phygital athlete, what established clubs can gain from the movement, and the ideas he is developing for other members of the World Phygital Community (WPC).
You often look for strong physical athletes first and then see how well they can perform in the gaming component. Why do you believe that physical talent is the harder thing to find, and how does this approach shape the way you build your phygital teams?
I believe physical talent is harder to find because it takes years to develop the right athletic skills, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure. Gaming skills also take time to develop, but with the right mindset and regular training, players can improve a lot.
When building a phygital team, I look for athletes who are physically strong but also willing to learn, adapt, and work as a team. Being a great athlete or a great gamer on its own is not enough.
For me, the real challenge is finding the right balance between the two worlds.
When you look at a traditional athlete and a competitive gamer, what qualities tell you that someone has the potential to become a great phygital athlete?
For me, the most important qualities are discipline, adaptability, a competitive mindset, and the willingness to learn. A traditional athlete needs to be open to learning the gaming side, while a gamer needs to be ready for the physical demands of the sport.
I also look at how they handle pressure, how quickly they learn from mistakes, and how they work with their teammates. You can teach someone certain skills, but the right mentality and willingness to improve make a big difference.
I think a great phygital athlete is someone who is ready to step out of their comfort zone and develop in both worlds.
Do you think the future of phygital sport will be driven more by traditional athletes learning to game, or by gamers developing their physical skills? Or will we eventually see a completely new type of athlete emerge?
I think we will see both approaches, but in the long run, I believe a completely new type of athlete will emerge. Traditional athletes will develop their gaming skills, while gamers will work on their physical abilities.
I think young generations will play a big role in this process. Through school sports tournaments and youth competitions, we can introduce children to phygital sport early and give them the opportunity to develop both skill sets from the beginning.
For me, that is where the future of phygital sport lies, in developing a new generation of athletes who see physical sport and gaming as two parts of the same competition.
You have been in contact with Partizan and Red Star about joining the phygital movement. What do you think established sports clubs can bring to phygital, and what would phygital offer them in return?
Established clubs like Partizan and Red Star have a strong identity, a loyal fan base, and a great sporting tradition. They can bring visibility, experience, and professional structures that would help phygital grow.
At the same time, these clubs have busy schedules and commitments in their traditional sports, so coordinating with phygital competition dates can be challenging. I think one possible solution is to create dedicated teams, such as Partizan Phygital or Red Star Phygital, with their own players and schedules.
This would allow clubs to enter the phygital movement without affecting their main sporting activities. In return, phygital would help them connect with younger generations, reach new audiences, and become part of the growing gaming community. I believe it can be a win-win situation for both sides.
What do you think traditional sports clubs still need to understand about phygital before they are ready to embrace it fully?
I think traditional sports clubs need to understand that phygital is more than just gaming or a marketing opportunity. It is a new competition format that combines physical sport and esports, and both parts require preparation, training, and the right players.
They also need to understand that it takes time to build a successful phygital team and that they need to approach it with the same commitment as any other sporting project.
I believe that once clubs see the potential to reach younger generations and create new opportunities for their athletes and fans, they will be more open to embracing phygital.
You place a lot of importance on introducing phygital sport to young people through schools. What do you believe children and teenagers can gain from phygital that they might not get from traditional sport or esports alone?
I think phygital gives young people the best of both worlds. They stay physically active while also developing digital skills, strategic thinking, and teamwork.
For children who enjoy gaming but are not so interested in traditional sports, phygital can be a great way to motivate them to become more physically active. At the same time, it can help young athletes discover the gaming side and develop new skills.
Through school tournaments, we can introduce them to this format in a fun and competitive environment, while teaching them discipline, teamwork, and fair play. I think the biggest benefit is that phygital can bring together young people with different interests and give them a common goal.
When you introduce phygital sport in a school, what is the moment that tells you it is working? Is it seeing young people discover a new sport, bringing different groups together, or something else?
For me, the biggest sign that it is working is when you see young people getting involved, enjoying the competition, and connecting with others they might not normally play sports with.
Some are more interested in gaming, others come from traditional sports, but phygital gives them a reason to work together and learn from each other.
When I see them having fun, supporting their teammates, and wanting to come back for another tournament, I know we are on the right track. For me, that is just as important as the competition itself.
Could schools eventually become the grassroots system through which your country discovers its next generation of phygital athletes? What would need to happen to make that possible?
Absolutely. I think schools can become the starting point for discovering the next generation of phygital athletes. Through school tournaments, we can reach a large number of young people and identify those who have potential in both physical sports and gaming.
To make this possible, we need regular competitions, cooperation with schools and sports clubs, and a clear pathway for young players to progress from school tournaments to national and international competitions.
The most important thing is consistency. It cannot be just one event a year. We need to build a system where young people have the opportunity to develop, compete, and improve over time.
Do you see phygital as a new category of sport in its own right, or as a natural evolution of the way sport is practised and experienced?
I see phygital as a new category of sport, but also as a natural evolution of how people experience sport today. Technology is becoming a bigger part of our lives, especially for younger generations, and I think sport needs to evolve with it.
Phygital doesn’t replace traditional sports or esports. It brings them together in a new competitive format where both physical and gaming skills matter.
For me, the goal is to create new opportunities for athletes, gamers, and young people who want to be part of both worlds.
What have you learned from traditional sports that you believe the wider phygital movement should adopt, whether in athlete development, club structures, coaching or competition?
I think phygital can learn a lot from traditional sports, but the key is not to copy their systems completely. We need to take the best practices, such as athlete development, coaching, discipline, and competition structures, and adapt them to the specific needs of phygital sport.
Phygital is a different format, so we need to build a system that works for both the physical and gaming components.
You are preparing a phygital basketball event in the coming weeks. What do you expect from this event and what would make you consider it a success beyond the competition itself?
For me, the success of the event was not only about the competition itself, but also about introducing more young people to phygital sport and giving them the opportunity to experience this format.
I believe every event is a chance to learn, improve the organization, and build stronger connections between traditional sports and gaming. If participants enjoyed the experience and left interested in taking part in future events, then we achieved something important.
The goal is not just to organize one successful tournament, but to use each event as a step towards developing phygital sport in the country.
What is one idea you are developing that you believe could be useful for other members around the world?
One idea I believe could be useful for other WPC members is developing phygital sport through schools. School tournaments are a great way to introduce young people to phygital, bring together traditional sports and gaming communities, and identify future talent.
I believe each country could adapt this approach to its own education system and local sports environment. By starting with young people and building regular competitions, we can create a stronger foundation for the future of phygital sport.
