‘History is made here and now’: Opening of the first Games of the Future in Kazan
The first-ever Games of the Future kicked off in Kazan this week. Over 270 teams from 107 countries are participating in the event, competing for victory in 21 disciplines. The organizational level of the tournament can be compared to major international tournaments. Multiple foreign invitees were present at the opening ceremony and commented on their impressions. At the opening ceremony, Vladimir Putin said that the tournament is free from political agendas, any form of discrimination, and double standards.
Athletes from around the world have a unique opportunity to glimpse into the future from February 21 to March 3. The Games in Kazan fully justified their name in this respect, putting up a show ahead of its time. Russia has invented the phygital format, combining physical sports with esports. And it has rapidly begun to gain popularity around the world.
The first Games of the Future saw 21 combined disciplines, including familiar team sports such as phygital football, phygital hockey, or phygital basketball, as well as unusual ones like cybathletics and Dance Simulator, along with esports: phygit MOBA (Dota 2 + final), CS2 + laser tag, and Warface + laser tag. In total, over 270 teams will participate in the competitions, with representatives from 107 countries.
Based on the latest numbers, it can confidently be stated that the hosts achieved the impossible. At a time when the vast majority of domestic athletes are isolated and all major international tournaments in the country are canceled, Kazan brought together athletes from around the world and organized a celebration of the highest level.
The event organization was top-notch. At the airport, guests were met by volunteers with traditional local treats. They help with accreditations and answer any questions. Logistics are carefully planned: shuttles run between arenas, complexes, hotels, and the airport. Moreover, an extensive cultural program has been prepared for participants, including 100 diverse tours and 80 events.
How Kazan hosted the first Games of the Future
Fans also appreciated Games of the Future. There were no empty seats at the hockey matches during the group stage. Tickets for Dota 2 were sold out almost instantly. Spectators are attracted not only by phygital sports but also by other activities: at various venues, you can engage in different games, try your hand in innovative disciplines, and meet athletes and bloggers.
”The atmosphere here is great. Honestly, before the start of the tournament, we did not expect the stands to be full to capacity in the first days. But they were. A huge thanks to the people for their support,” said Ak Bars hockey player Maxim Pestushko.
Fans who, for one reason or another, are unable to attend Games of the Future in person have also been thought of. Online broadcasts of the competitions can be watched all over the world.
”My father and wife constantly write to me. My dad even said that phygital hockey is now his favorite sport. In addition, they watch broadcasts of all our matches on the internet,” said Carlos Fornaris, a Quetzales Mexico NA team forward, in an interview with RT.
The opening ceremony became a kind of cherry on top. The colorful show was produced by music producer Igor Krutoy's team, which had previously organised similar events at the Universiade, an international multi-sport event, the World Aquatics Championships, and the WorldSkills Championship for professional skill performance.
The event did not go unnoticed by high-ranking officials. It was attended by the heads of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Republic of Serbia — Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Sadyr Japarov, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Emomali Rahmon, and Milorad Dodik
Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the event. Symbolically, he took a seat next to well-known athletes: figure skater Kamila Valieva, gymnast Nikita Nagorny, footballers Andrey Arshavin and Alexey Smertin, as well as former IIHF leader Rene Fasel.
Shortly before the start of the ceremony, Vladimir Putin was given a brief tour of “Kazan Expo.” In particular, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko told the President about Dota 2 and compared its complexity level to chess. Andrey Arshavin asked the head of state to assist in creating a domestic version of a popular football simulator.
Addressing the guests of the event from the stage, the President expressed hope that Games of the Future would become a celebration for all participants.
”Games of the Future are free from political circumstances, any form of discrimination, and double standards. I am confident that true sportsmanship will prevail on the fields of the Games. Two thousand athletes from over a hundred countries will have to demonstrate virtuoso skills, perseverance, and the will to win. There is no doubt that the competitions of finest athletes will be an exceptionally thrilling event and will capture the hearts of spectators, revealing new bright stars to us,” said Putin.
The ceremony itself turned out to be spectacular. The audience was particularly impressed by the appearance of a real racing car on stage. After Putin's speech, the traditional parade of participating countries took place, with each being represented by a woman in a costume matching their national flag colors.
In the second half, a phygital show called “Journey to the Future” took place, where fans were shown what Kazan would look like in the future.
According to the script, some domestic animals will be replaced by robodogs, and people will be able to travel in space on hypersonic trains. Moreover, humanity will succeed in colonizing Mars, permanently overcoming drought, and harnessing energy from the depths of the sea.
This part of the show was made unforgettable by a huge screen spanning the length of the hall, creating synergy between physical and virtual space. At the end of the journey, the main characters returned to the present so as not to miss the start of the first Games of the Future.
