Qatar poised to lead world in phygital sports

Doha, Qatar: With Qatar s established legacy in hosting global sporting events, particularly with the hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the nation i...

Doha, Qatar: With Qatar’s established legacy in hosting global sporting events, particularly with the hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the nation is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in the Phygital sports movement, Managing Director of the World Phygital Community (WPC) Dan Merkley has said.

WPC is a non-profit, international organisation that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital communities globally.

Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Qatar Esports Forum 2025 held recently, Merkley noted that Qatar’s investment in traditional sports is well-documented, with initiatives like Aspire Academy fostering athletic excellence, adding that the nation’s forward-thinking approach makes it an ideal candidate to adopt Phygital sports as a national initiative. 

“Qatar has been circling bigger sporting events, and with initiatives like the Aspire Academy, there’s a great opportunity to be an early adopter of the Phygital movement. By integrating the digital gaming culture that captivates youth with physical activity, Qatar could set a global precedent,” he added.

He noted that Qatar has already begun to make strides in this regard with the successful hosting of Phygital tournaments in 2025.