Sport has always been a reflection of technological and social progress. If the 20th century was captivated by football, basketball, and running, by 2035 we can expect disciplines we can only guess at today. Experts predict that traditional sports will be replaced by hybrids of technology, ecology, and urban culture.
Virtual Worlds and Esports 2.0
By 2035, esports will no longer be about “playing on a computer.” With the development of neural interfaces and VR technology, disciplines will emerge where physical endurance and reaction time are as important as digital skills. For example, neuro-athletics—competitions where participants control avatars in virtual reality with their thoughts and body movements. The Japanese company NeuroFit is already testing prototypes: races with virtual cars where the pilots simultaneously run on a track in the real world.
Another trend is augmented reality in mass sports. Imagine a football match where players wear AR glasses that create obstacles or change the rules on the fly. Adidas, in collaboration with Microsoft, is conducting such experiments.
Eco-Conscious Sport
Climate change will reshape the sports industry. Instead of traditional marathons with thousands of plastic bottles, we will see the eco-triathlon: participants cover distances while collecting trash, charging gadgets from solar panels, and competing for the smallest carbon footprint. In the Netherlands, the startup GreenRace already hosts races where every kilometer sponsors the planting of trees.
Another direction is vertical farming (from English farm + gaming). Urban farms on skyscraper roofs will become arenas for competitions in planting speed, crop care, and harvesting. This sport will combine ecology, technology, and physical labor.
Urban Extreme
Future cities will turn into giant sports grounds. Parkour will be replaced by acrobatics with quadcopters—jumping between drones hovering over urban districts. Dubai already includes such shows in its festival programs.
Another example is molecular surfing. Scientists from MIT are working on materials that will allow creating temporary “waves” on building walls using sound vibrations. Surfers will be able to ride in city centers, and spectators will watch through AR glasses.
Biohacking as a Sport: Competitions of Body and Science
By 2034, biohacking will reach a new level and become a legal discipline. For instance, 100 km races for athletes with artificially increased lung capacity or ice-water swims for those who have edited their cold-resistance genes.
Today, the startup BioBoost already holds unofficial tournaments where participants compete in post-exertion recovery speed using cryotherapy and gene therapy.
Space Disciplines: Sport Beyond Earth
With the development of space tourism, sports adapted for zero gravity will appear. Zero-G Basketball—basketball where hoops are positioned at 360° and players move in magnetic boots. Or asteroid mountaineering—climbing rotating space objects with low gravity. SpaceX has announced the first demo competitions for 2028.
Longevity Sports: Activity for the 80+ Age Group
By 2034, 30% of the population in developed countries will be over 60. This will create demand for geroprotective disciplines that slow aging. For example:
- DNA Yoga: Exercises that activate telomerase to lengthen telomeres.
- Neurobics: Workouts with VR puzzles that stimulate neuroplasticity.
- Cyber-dancing: Competitions in simulators where participants control avatars with their thoughts.
Ethical Challenges and Regulation
Not all innovations will be met with approval. Controversies will arise over:
- Genetic modifications providing a sports advantage.
- The use of neural implants to enhance concentration.
- The risks of esports for mental health.
The UN is already developing a concept of “Fair Rules for the Sports of the Future” to level the playing field between natural athletes and biohacked participants.
Conclusion
The sports of 2035 will be a symbiosis of human potential, technology, and ecology. It will cease to be mere spectacle—transforming into a tool for survival, self-discovery, and unity with nature. As futurist Ray Kurzweil said: “The human of the future will not divide life into sport, work, and rest. It will all merge into a single flow—a conscious game where everyone will find their own way to be perfect.
