The facility for phygital (physical + digital) sports, which is planned to appear at ITMO Highpark, will be available to everyone as part of the techno valley with research and innovation infrastructure for enterprises.
The center will be located next to the traditional sports facilities, which will contain swimming and rowing pools, an ice and hockey rink, tennis courts, gyms, and team sports facilities. This division is meant to pay equal attention to different kinds of sports. The sports center will be part of ITMO’s second campus.
“ITMO is a leader in phygital sports in Russia. In 2023, the university established a dedicated coordination and methodological center in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The center implements the project Phygital Education jointly with the Ministry and the Agency for the Development of Computer and Other Sports. Namely, it develops educational programs and methodological recommendations on organization of university contests, organizes forums, and helps launch phygital sports clubs,” emphasized Evgenii Raskin, ITMO's Vice Rector for Youth Policy.
Evgenii Raskin at the strategy session. Photo courtesy of the organizers
Phygital sports were officially recognized in Russia in 2023. The field combines traditional sports (football, hockey, auto racing, martial arts, skateboarding, etc.) with their analogs in virtual and AR realities. Participants of phygital competitions demonstrate both their physical and digital abilities.
