Under the auspices of the President of the State… "Future Games 2025" It will be launched in Abu Dhabi with the participation of 60 countries

Abu Dhabi, December 16, 2017 – Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” the “Future Games 2025” activities, presented by ADNOC, will be held during the period from December 18 to 23 at the ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi.

The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow, announcing the launch of one of the most diverse and competitive gatherings of athletes in the world of hybrid sports, where physical excellence meets digital skill under the creative identity of the event: “The next generation of humans. Play the future.”

Physical sports combine traditional sports competition with its digital counterpart in a unified format in which players must excel in both formats. Clubs begin the challenge in the digital round, then face each other again in the real arena, with victory calculated according to the sum of the two performances.

This model embodies the growing intersection between technology and real-world performance, introducing a new form of sporting competition. More than 850 competitors from 60 countries are participating, representing clubs, emerging talents and new faces in 11 physical disciplines.

His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the President of the UAE for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology, Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, said: The concept of digital sports is not only a new form, but it embodies the mentality of a new generation, and Abu Dhabi is proud to host this edition of the 2025 Future Games, as it creates an environment that combines physical excellence and digital prowess. Our goal is to empower youth, accelerate the pace of innovation, and build communities around technologies that will shape the future.

The organization of the 2025 edition comes with great global momentum, as the “Future Games” brings together an elite group of the most prominent athletes in the physical sports system, who possess high capabilities in physical performance and digital skills.

A group of professional players, e-sports stars, and emerging physical talents will participate in it, which promises exceptional competitions that express the best that the real and digital worlds have to offer.

The tournament reflects the rapid transformation in the nature of sports within an interconnected world, making the 2025 edition a turning point in the journey of this growing global sector.

Ness Hutt, CEO of Vegital International, said: “The Future Games continues to set new standards globally in Vegital sports, and the confirmation of the participation of this wide range of clubs across all categories reflects the rapid growth of this sector, and the high interest of players and institutions around the world.” At Physical International, we focus on ensuring a fair and innovative competitive environment that enhances the digital and physical dimensions of sports.

He added: Abu Dhabi is ready to present an exceptional edition this year, and we look forward to bringing fans closer to the new generation of sports.

Stefan Timpano, CEO of Aspire, said: Technology is radically transforming all aspects of our lives, and sports is no exception. By integrating cutting-edge digital platforms, interactive gaming environments and real-time analytics, we are creating competitive formats that motivate athletes in new ways and engage audiences in an unprecedented way. The Future Games 2025 embodies this evolution, demonstrating how innovation is redefining the sporting experience for a global community.

The draw resulted in determining the opening group stage matches for the various sports disciplines, forming the first stories of the competition that the public will follow.

As the event progresses, the full competitive paths become clear, as clubs compete to qualify and reserve an advanced place in the finals, for which prizes totaling $5 million have been allocated.

In conjunction with the tournament, Abu Dhabi will host the Physical Sports Summit tomorrow, December 17, 2025, which is an intellectual platform that brings together international experts, athletes, innovators and decision-makers, to discuss the development of hybrid sports.

The summit includes an integrated program of keynote speeches, dialogue sessions, and in-depth discussions on the intersection of sports and technology, the integration between humans and artificial intelligence, the future of youth participation, the health of athletes in hybrid environments, and the sustainable legacy of physical sports.

The summit sessions will be moderated by Amy Jane Gillingham, Mohammed Al Hosani, and Sabine Sassen, and will be attended by senior representatives of Physical International and Future Games partners, in addition to leading international figures who contribute to shaping the digital and virtual movement.

Guests expected to attend include His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, and an international delegation that includes His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Rawan bint Najib Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Sheikha Dina bint Rashid Al Khalifa, Advisor for Planning and Development at the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Dr. Osman Ashkin Pak, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey.

The Digital and Real Sports Summit is expected to enhance the spirit of community solidarity accompanying the games, and to consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for innovation in next-generation sports and hybrid competitions.

Aspire is organizing the “Future Games Abu Dhabi 2025”, presented by ADNOC, as the local entity responsible for implementation, in cooperation with “Thiraa” as the event’s implementation partner, and Vigital International, as the entity that owns the global rights.

The event is supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council as the host city, and the Ministry of Sports as an official partner.

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