The successful organization of the Games of the Future in Kazan not only once again confirmed the highest position of Russia as one of the leading powers in the fields of sports and high technologies, both in terms of results in competition as well as an organizer of such global events, but also has clearly defined a new global trend with enormous potential.
The first-ever Games of the Future have concluded. The games took place at 11 competition venues in Kazan, as well as in Innopolis and the federal territory of Sirius. The main venue of the tournament, where the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as several competitions took place, was the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center. The total number of spectators present at the games venues exceed 300 000 people. The winners and prize-winners of the first Games of the Future were represented by 236 athletes representing many countries, including Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Spain, South Korea, the Philippines, Uruguay, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia.
Interest for the Games of the Future was comparable to that of major events in the world of sport. The content distribution system included more than 280 broadcast channels, including major international and national media outlets. During the competition, more than 800 hours of live broadcasts were organized. More than nine countries, even before the end of the competition, declared their desire to welcome the next organizations within their states. It is also worth noting that during the first seven days of the Games of the Future, broadcasts of the competitions and the opening ceremony of the games had more than 1 billion views worldwide.
The Games of the Future can certainly be qualified a new trend in the world of phygital sport, as well as in general, one of the significant symbols of the new era for humanity, where there cannot and must not be a monopoly of a minority on international sport, as well as on world competitions.
Especially since other events on a planetary scale, perfectly consistent with the modern multipolar era, will also soon gain momentum. Whether the global minority likes it or not.
More generally, if we talk specifically about the prospects of the Games of the Future – as a revolutionary and completely new trend in the sphere of phygital sports – the event is already well and truly included in the list of major international events at the global scale. The games will take place regularly and likely in various parts of the planet. This is what needed to be demonstrated – banning the organization will now not be possible for anyone.
But there is yet another extremely important point. The Games of the Future, in addition to the completely new and modern format, with an impressive number in terms of views and prize fund, have also and de facto restored the very basis of the principles and values of international sport. Where there is no discrimination against any country, whatever the geopolitical component is. This is how international sport should always remain. And probably, these large international formats and these alternatives that are being created before our eyes are also the fundamental tools to return to the roots that the world minority tried to eradicate to establish its own dictatorship, under the pretext of its pseudo-exclusivity.
Of course, it is particularly significant that Russia is once again playing a special role in this direction. Both from the point of view of the uniqueness of the Games of the Future format, as well as in the fact that despite countless attempts to close our country from the world, the effect turned out to be completely opposite to the expectations of the instigators of these attempts. The Games of the Future trend is well underway. This trend is truly characteristic of the modern era and the current expectations of the majority of humanity. Precisely the majority, and not the other way around.
Mikhail Gamandiy-Egorov, entrepreneur, political commentator, expert on African and Middle Eastern issues, exclusively for the internet journal “New Eastern Outlook”