Russian Schools to Add Phygital Sports to PE Curriculum
Russia plans to bring hybrid athletic–digital competitions into classrooms as the popularity of phygital sports surges nationwide.
Russian students may soon swap some of their traditional PE activities for phygital sports — a new discipline that blends physical gameplay with digital technology. The Ministry of Education is developing a pilot module in partnership with the All-Russian Federation of Phygital Sports, aiming to make it part of the official school curriculum.
Currently, students across Russia practice 32 sports during physical education classes. Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyaryov has proposed adding both phygital sports and cross-country skiing, an idea supported by Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, who emphasized the importance of bringing the trend to schools.
The Rise of Phygital Sports
Phygital sports were officially recognized in Russia in 2023 and combine traditional athletic performance with e-sports-style digital competition — for example, a soccer match played both on a field and in a virtual simulator. The concept is gaining momentum nationwide as a way to attract younger audiences who are as comfortable in the digital realm as they are in real-world play.
Russia is investing heavily in infrastructure to support this hybrid trend. The country’s first large-scale phygital centers will open in Novosibirsk and Yugra by the end of 2025, with over 300 facilities planned by 2030.
The move signals a broader shift in Russia’s education system — using technology not only to modernize learning but to redefine what it means to stay active in the digital age.
