Spectacular show, first 7 million views, and African prospects: Games of the Future kick off in Kazan
Kazan is hosting the opening ceremony of the Games of the Future on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit what has been touted as a spectacular show put together by the team of renowned composer and producer Igor Krutoy. Meanwhile, the Dota 2 and phygital hockey tournaments have begun. Igor Stolyarov, the head of the project, says one of the live streams got 7 million views in China, as the organizers are considering the venue for the next Games, which could be one of the African countries.
The opening ceremony of the Games of the Future will awe the audience in Kazan on February 21, and the wait is almost over. President Putin is expected to attend the event in his first visit to the capital of Tatarstan since 2019, when he witnessed the closing ceremony of WorldSkills Kazan, an international competition for vocational skills. Other heads of state may also be in attendance, with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s visit already confirmed.
“We are truly happy to share the joy of this sports event with the leaders of a number of other states. We will announce their names in due time,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Around 800 participants of the Games of the Future have arrived in Kazan, where they were greeted with an authentic Tatar welcome. The city expects about 6,000 guests, who will come to watch a competition of 294 teams from 107 countries in 21 disciplines. Kazan’s mayor Ilsur Metshin says the city is up to this challenge.
“Kazan has found itself in the center of the sports world before, but this time, we’re about to witness a revolutionary multi-sport event, which will blend physical reality with the digital realm. Kazan’s Games of the Future will become the benchmark for the entire history of these competitions, much like the games in Athens were for the Olympics. It’s a great honor for us,” Metshin told a press conference.
Designed by Igor Krutoy’s team, the opening ceremony will be a cultural event in its own right, broadcast live on Russia’s Channel One. Krutoy is also partnering with Kazan to work on Dobraya Volna, a popular Russian festival of children’s art.
“Kazan has a glorious past, but we’re betting big on its future powered by digital technology. Make no mistake, we stand ready to open a new, digital, chapter in the history of international sports, and do so with dignity and flair,” Ilsur Metshin added.
Even though the official kick-off ceremony is scheduled for February 21, some games are already under way. Monday saw the first competitions between Dota 2 and phygital hockey players, while the first medals in indoor cycling will be awarded on February 22. Project head Igor Stolyarov says the first online streams have generated a lot of interest, with one video reaching 7 million views on a Chinese platform.
“The games are being live-streamed to 30 countries on around 240 platforms including social media and streaming sites. Achieving this level of coverage for an exotic new event was not easy, and it’s something we’re proud of. Our main KPI here is delivering attractive videos that will generate billions of views. We’re not just organizing a championship, we’re launching a new kind of sports product,” Stolyarov said.
According to him, the organizers did not run into any major obstacles.
“There have been no major failures or breakdowns so far. Several new disciplines have been added recently. Geopolitics does have an impact, but we’re trying to overcome all obstacles and help everyone have a smooth transition to the games.”
Apart from politicians, some of the famous guests expected to attend the Games of the Future include former world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr., and Alina Zagitova, who will be a guest of honor.
According to media reports, she will replace Kamila Valieva after the latter was suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, even though the CAS has no direct jurisdiction over the new competition in Kazan. Vladislav Yershov, the sports director of the Games of the Future, believes the figure skater could give the phygital format a try.
“Kamila could probably join an ice hockey team, since we allow men and women to compete together. There is an MMA team which has three men and a woman on its roster,” Yershov said at a press conference.
The ice hockey tournament has a special significance for the local audience since Kazan’s Ak Bars has provided some of its players for a team whose captain is Maxim Pestushko, Neftekhimik’s legend.
“During training, we really liked the new appearance of the ice hockey rink. It’s eye-catching and unusual, which is key. I encourage everyone to come. I promise you a lot of action, you’ll love it. The teams include many former hockey pros, and these guys don’t like to lose, they’re always up for a fight. I hope the Games of the Future will help get more people excited about sports in general and provide a good example for young folks,” an Ak Bars player said.
Phygital combat sports is getting some celebrity attention too, with current UFC fighters Rinat Fakhretdinov and Sharabutdin Magomedov among the participants.
Igor Stolyarov believes the next tournament could take place in Africa, as the organizers are already beginning to plan ahead.
“We’d love to see athletes from around the world, including African countries like Senegal, Kenya, or South Africa. We’re open to considering the next venue for these games, which could be in Africa,” he added.