The World Phygital Community is proud to announce an exciting new milestone with the formation of its inaugural Advisory Council, designed to drive our mission to unite forward-thinking leaders and advance the development and growth of phygital sport worldwide.
Initially comprising four distinguished leaders from across the worlds of Olympic sport, international diplomacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation, the Council will play a central role in guiding long-term strategy and driving the community’s innovation agenda.
“Phygital sport is more than a new category of sport – it’s a new way for people everywhere to connect through competition,” said Dan Merkley, Chairperson and Managing Director of WPC. “This Council brings together exceptional leaders who understand both the power of sport and the potential of technology. Their insights will help us grow responsibly and inclusively, shaping a shared vision for how phygital sport can thrive on a global stage.”
Each advisor brings unique perspective to WPC’s mission and will serve a 12-month term:
- Bernt Erik Bjontegard: The founder of Spark Compass, an award-winning contextual intelligence platform, Bjontegard previously led R&D at Qualcomm and NASA. He comes with expertise in augmented reality applications for sport and over 50 patents pending worldwide.
- David Feng Xintao: An expert in international communication and a veteran of four Olympic Games (Beijing 2008 through Sochi 2014) as IOC Protocol and Hospitality Manager, David brings deep experience coordinating with governments, sponsors, and sporting federations on the world’s biggest stage.
- Francline Fonderson: Founder and President of the Cameroon Association for Technology and Cultural Exchange (CATCE), Francline is widely known for driving grassroots phygital programs across Central and West Africa, while also building bridges between local youth, sponsors, and government partners.
- Jorge O’Ryan Schutz: Former Chilean Ambassador to Germany and an ex-professional basketball player, Jorge’s career spans diplomacy, public administration, and sports management. He has served as President of Club Deportivo Universidad Católica and now directs international development at UC Innovation Center.
The Advisory Council will focus on four key areas: raising awareness of WPC initiatives, exploring new markets, advising on commercial opportunities, and contributing to the development of regulatory standards.
In addition to supporting the growth of phygital sport worldwide, the Advisory Council will champion the broader development of the phygital ecosystem – including strengthening the positioning of the Games of the Future as the flagship global showcase for the phygital movement.
For more information, visit the Advisory Council page.
