Play the Game 2025 Convening Over 300 Speakers to Foster Democracy Dialogue in Sport

Recent research from the University of Georgia underscores the significant role that urban design of sports facilities plays in promoting physical activity and enhancing public health, emphasizing that aesthetic and functional environments encourage greater sports participation. Alongside infrastructure, the cultural landscape of sports is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements like VAR and social media, fostering deeper athlete-fan connections and promoting inclusivity and community engagement. Innovations such as TGL, a hybrid golf league combining physical play with digital technologies, illustrate the emerging trend of 'phygital' sports formats that blend real and virtual experiences to create new fan engagement opportunities and content channels. Meanwhile, the intersection of sports, politics, and human rights remains contentious, highlighted by concerns over the unexplained disappearance of Anatol Kotau, a former Belarusian Olympic official, prompting calls for international sports bodies to advocate for transparency and athlete safety. In response to ongoing challenges in sports governance and societal polarization, organizations like Play the Game advocate for open dialogue, democratic debate, and the transformation of disagreement into understanding to strengthen the integrity and inclusiveness of sports worldwide.