Published on: 2026-07-29
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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A solemn ceremony was held in Astana to open the International Multisport Tournament “Games of the Future – 2026.” It was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Chernyshenko. As part of his working visit, he also assessed the Games’ venues and attended the fidgeball basketball competition between the clubs Vozdovac (Serbia) and Triada (Russia).
President of Russia Vladimir Putin addressed the participants and guests of the Games. The competition was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The opening ceremony was also attended by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.
“These unique competitions embody sport and innovation, physical and intellectual culture. Their main mission is to promote the harmonious development of a person who is oriented towards the future, open to progress, confidently mastering the most advanced technologies, a person who understands the value of knowledge and strives for perfection. I am convinced that over time the number of individual disciplines both in the Games program and in fidgetal sports as a whole will grow, as will their popularity. Russia is one of the leading sports powers on the planet, the homeland of great athletes, records and victories. We are proud that our country was at the origins of the fidgetal movement, and, of course, we create all the conditions for the development of this sport,” noted Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address to the participants and guests of the Games.
Also participating in the events were the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin, the Minister of Sports, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyaryov, and the President of the International Boxing Association Umar Kremlyov.
Dmitry Chernyshenko headed the organizing committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi. He spoke about fidgetal sports, which are actively developing in the country.
“The Games of the Future, which for the first time, by the decision of our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, were held in 2024 in Kazan, gave a start to a new international movement that did not previously exist. It was a gift from Russia to the entire world – it unites digital and physical sports. It should be noted that the international movement is developing – more than 120 countries regularly hold competitions in these sports. We see excellent infrastructure, the most modern facilities, and huge youth involvement. In Astana, new standards are being created, new benchmarks for the development of one of the most powerful sports digital movements are being set,” emphasized the Vice Premier.
It should be noted that there are a total of 37 phygital centers operating in Russia, and phygital sports themselves are becoming part of educational programs. For example, a pilot program for implementing digital disciplines has been launched in 59 Russian schools.
Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for organizing the Future Games – 2026 in Kazakhstan. He evaluated the venue of the Future Games – 2026, including the competition zones and the mobile television station. The Deputy Prime Minister paid special attention to the work of the volunteers.
Teams from Russia participated in the qualifying tournaments for the Games throughout the season, with the key stage being the Phygital games in Nizhny Novgorod. The country is represented at the tournament in Astana by phygital clubs and athletes who qualified within the World Phygital Community ranking and the qualifying competitions of the 2025/2026 season.
In the “phygital shooter” discipline, the Liga Pro Team is competing for the main trophy; in the phygital football arena, the FFK “Rotor Ciss” club; in phygital dancing, Konstantin Fominykh received a direct quota to the Games of the Future – 2026 by taking first place at the Phygital Games – 2025. Based on the results of the international qualification Phygital Contenders Astana 2026, the phygital basketball club Triada earned a spot at the Games of the Future – 2026. Also participating in the tournament are two-time winners of the Games of the Future: the phygital basketball club Liga Pro Team and the phygital dancer Ivan Vlasov.
Russian athletes will compete for victory in all eight disciplines – phygital basketball, phygital football, phygital shooters, phygital dances, phygital martial arts, MOBA PC, MOBA Mobile, and Battle Royale.
“From the very beginning, these Games have been and remain free from political conjuncture, any forms of discrimination and double standards. It is important that the geography of the Games is expanding. This year they are hosted by the vibrant, modern, and dynamically growing Astana, which took over the baton from Abu Dhabi, the hosts of last year’s competition. For Russia, it is important to preserve and develop the legacy of the Games of the Future. We continue to support innovative sports, develop the phygital movement, and expand international cooperation,” said Russia’s Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev.
Note that the Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026) is the largest international multisport tournament in the world of phygital sports, held on the initiative of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. It combines digital and physical activities into a single competitive ecosystem. This year, the tournament is taking place in Astana from July 29 to August 9. In 2025, the Games of the Future were held in Abu Dhabi. It is expected that more than 800 people representing over 50 nationalities, united in international clubs, will participate in the competitions in Kazakhstan this year.
A cultural program is also held as part of the Games of the Future. For example, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the grand opening of the exhibition “From Athens to Astana. Olympic Artifacts from the Vladimir Potanin Collection.” The exhibition is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games. The exposition, devoted to the contribution of Russia and Kazakhstan to the development of the global Olympic movement, features 140 authentic artifacts: award and commemorative medals from the Games starting from 1896, Olympic torches, diplomas. Visitors can also see personal equipment of outstanding athletes from the collections of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The exhibition will run until September 30, 2026.
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