South Africa's growing participation in the Games of the Future project is putting the country on the global map of phygital sports, opening prospects for hosting future competitions.
South Africa's involvement in core disciplines has attracted international attention. Daniel Merkley, CEO of Phygital International, stated that South Africa has the potential to become a host for the Games of the Future.
The Games of the Future 2026 in Astana demonstrated not only high-class sport but also a new sporting landscape where technology, gaming, and traditional physical competitions coexist. Africa is beginning to strengthen its position in this new environment.
Africa's Opportunities in Phygital: South Africa Leads
During an international press conference attended by leaders of the international movement, BRICS AFRICA CHANNEL highlighted South Africa's growing digital community and asked Daniel Merkley, CEO of Phygital International, about the continent's more active participation and the possibility of hosting the Games in South Africa.
Merkley emphasized the continent's existing representation in the Global Phygital Community, specifically noting South Africa's level of engagement. He explained that the country has successfully prepared participants in key disciplines, including Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter, Phygital Basketball, and Phygital Football.
Merkley named South Africa a model of desired international engagement and confirmed that the country is in the organization's focus. He expressed confidence in South Africa's ability to host a major international event, citing the country's experience in hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
However, the significance of his statement goes beyond simply hosting the Games. Merkley also mentioned collaboration with South African members, possible development of public partnerships, and strengthening the competencies of members in other parts of Africa. This could be a more significant development, as creating a sustainable ecosystem creates long-term opportunities beyond a single tournament.
South African athletes have already participated in Astana: Orlando Pirates Fives represented the country in Phygital Football, and Team Hybrid in Phygital Shooter.
Can This Become a Profession?
One of the most important questions raised at the conference was the possibility for participants to build a sustainable career as phygital athletes. This question touches upon whether this emerging sport can go beyond major events and become a serious path for youth.
There are certain complexities. Unlike many traditional sports, the technologies supporting digital competitions can change rapidly. Game names change, licensing agreements evolve, and new technologies can alter the perception of the digital and physical aspects of the discipline.
Merkley acknowledged this flexibility. He explained that in case of predicted changes in game names or competition formats, the organization informs its international community so that teams have time to prepare and adapt. He also noted the strength of the movement—the ability of young people to quickly adapt to technology.
For Africa, this opens up an important conversation about opportunities. The future sports economy may require not only footballers, basketball players, or esports players, but also athletes who move freely between physical and digital environments. Around such athletes will be coaches, developers, production teams, broadcasters, tech specialists, event organizers, sponsors, and content creators, significantly expanding potential opportunities.
A New Type of Athlete
Throughout the press conference, Merkley returned to the theme of changing relationships between youth and the digital and physical worlds. The core idea of the movement is that these two environments should no longer be seen as opposites. In several disciplines, the same athletes must compete on the digital arena and then transition to the physical competition.
This challenges the traditional division between 'gamer' and 'athlete'. Merkley spoke of the possibility of a generation that may not identify as either a representative of traditional sport or an esports player. Their starting point might simply be that they have always been phygital athletes. This concept may be relevant for Africa, given that the continent possesses vast traditional sports cultures, while gaming, mobile technology, and digital entertainment are becoming increasingly important parts of communication, competition, and content consumption among young Africans. Linking these environments could generate entirely new opportunities.
Creating a Trajectory to the Main Event
Another important message from the press conference was that Games of the Future cannot be viewed merely as an annual international spectacle. Merkley described the flagship competition as the culmination of a much longer journey for athletes and teams.
The international community now covers over 100 countries, where members develop competitions and pathways that can ultimately lead athletes to the international stage. After rapid international expansion, attention is increasingly shifting to strengthening processes within individual countries. Merkley spoke about the need to improve the work of member organizations and tournaments, conduct workshops, and encourage experienced members to share knowledge with countries just starting out in this sport or having limited resources. This is particularly important for Africa.
A strong African ecosystem means that young competitors will not have to wait for an international event to arrive on the continent. Local and regional competitions can serve as a starting point from which athletes can potentially advance to international tournaments. For countries with small sports budgets, the focus on creating reproducible models for markets with varying levels of resources also makes participation more achievable.
Technology will continue to change the Games. Viewers today see one format, but in a few years, it could look completely different. Unlike traditional sports formats based on rules that can remain unchanged for decades, organizers have intentionally left room for the Games to evolve alongside technology and youth trends. Merkley discussed possibilities such as more immersive events, improved statistics for viewers, and the potential use of augmented reality to further blur the line between virtual and real components. He also expressed interest in collaborating with technology companies willing to experiment with new ways to enhance the experience for athletes and spectators. This flexibility could be a defining characteristic of the Games. Although disciplines, technologies, and digital names may change, the central idea remains the same: combining digital capabilities with physical performance.
The Next Global Destination
As the Astana leg approaches its conclusion, attention inevitably shifts to where the Games will go next. Official confirmation of the host for Games of the Future 2027 has not yet been received. Organizers explained that selecting a future host city involves much more than just finding suitable stadiums. Potential cities are assessed based on their ability to meet technical requirements, experience in hosting premium international events, and the reliability of their technological infrastructure, including connectivity, networks, and cybersecurity. State-level cooperation and the potential for the event to align with broader initiatives in technology, industry, healthcare, and well-being in the host country are also important.
Brazil was mentioned as a favorable and notable option for the future session, indicating the movement's growing presence in Latin America. Merkley called South America an important market, mentioning grassroots projects involving students and competing teams from countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. He also expressed a desire to see how the Games reach Latin America in the coming years, but the next host city remains undecided until an official announcement.
Africa Has a Chance to Start Earlier
Perhaps the strongest message for the African audience coming from Astana is that the continent does not need to wait for this sports movement to fully establish itself elsewhere before participating. Athletes from South Africa are already taking part, and African media is already covering the event. The continent is already represented in the international community, and the CEO of Phygital International has publicly identified South Africa as a country capable of potentially hosting the Games in the future. There is an opportunity to build on this foundation now.
The true measure of success will not just be whether South Africa ever hosts an international event, but whether more African athletes have paths to competition, whether local competitions develop, whether African companies see opportunities in the technology and production surrounding sports, and whether young people can turn their existing interest in gaming, technology, and physical sports into something more. Furthermore, broadcasters have a duty to make these developing opportunities visible, and governments and sports organizations have a duty to understand the direction of youth culture and technology. A completely new sporting landscape is forming for young Africans. The boundaries between traditional sport, esports, entertainment, and technology are changing, and South Africa's presence at Games of the Future 2026 shows that Africa is not just watching.