At the closing ceremony of the Games of the Future, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko highlighted Russia’s prominent role within the global sports community, praising the event’s spirit and the athletes who competed with openness and fairness. The remarks, carried by Match TV, underscored a belief in Russian leadership on the international stage and a commitment to advancing physical sports across the world.
Chernyshenko stressed that Russia had once again demonstrated its decisive influence in worldwide sports circles. He thanked every athlete for their sportsmanship and noted that they stand as pioneers who push physical disciplines forward through dedication, discipline, and competitive integrity.
The phygital Games of the Future tournament ran from February 21 to March 3 and featured 21 innovative disciplines across ten venues in Kazan and Sochi. Among the events was the G-Drive phygital racing competition held in the capital of the 2014 Winter Games, where participants needed to deliver the fastest times on both a virtual course and the actual race track. This format blended digital simulations with real-world performance, creating a unique fusion of competitiveness and technology that attracted athletes from various disciplines and audiences who value cross-domain experimentation in sport.
As a showcase for evolving athletic categories, the event emphasized the synergy between virtual and physical racing, highlighting how training, reaction time, strategy, and precise execution translate between platforms. Organizers and participants alike viewed the format as a way to broaden engagement, accelerate innovation, and keep fans connected to sport through immersive experiences that leverage contemporary digital tools. The tournament’s phygital approach symbolized a broader trend toward blended environments where athletes can test new ideas while preserving the core values of fair competition and measurable performance.
In addition to the racing competitions, the Games of the Future presented a spectrum of demonstrations and demonstrations-inspired activities designed to illustrate potential future directions for sport. The event sought to attract a diverse audience by combining traditional athletic showcase with interactive digital elements, encouraging spectators to explore how physical performance and digital analytics can complement each other. Throughout the event, officials emphasized the importance of open participation, clear rules, and transparent scoring to uphold the integrity that is central to international sport. The closing remarks from Chernyshenko reinforced the message that leadership in sports comes with responsibility and a commitment to nurturing talent across generations, regions, and disciplines.