Atlas Games Shakes Up CrossFit Competitions With NFT Medals

The Atlas Games take place on June 10-12, providing the final set of athletes with an opportunity to secure spots in the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games. These competitors will also make CrossFit history while trying to secure NFT medals.

Remind me: An NFT (non-fungible token) is a digital asset containing information saying that the owner is in control of a computer file stored in a specific location. They can be compared to baseball cards or limited-edition sneakers. The main difference is that NFTs are on the blockchain (a list of records linked together by cryptography). These collectibles do not have a place in the physical world.

• Popular examples of NFTs are animated GIFs, digital artwork, digital sneakers, or audio clips. Many companies and personalities have sold NFTs, including William Shatner, NASCAR, NIKE, Snoop Dogg, and Lionel Messi among many others.
• The NFTs have a bit of code attached to them that link them to each specific owner and signify the rarity. The NFTs can be sold on a marketplace, and the original owner can earn royalties each time a sale takes place.

The Atlas Games Collection is currently on display on OpenSea and on the Atlas Games app. There are 12 total, split between Individuals, Teams, Community Teams, and Age Groups. Text on the front of the medals reads Montreal 2022. There is additional text visible on the edges of the medals with multiple different messages. One reads “Live the Experience,” another says “Be Remembered,” and the third says “Create Memories.”

The athletes will still receive a physical item after securing spots on the podium. They just will not be medals. Instead, they will have a different memento in a frame to signify the victory.

The genesis of the idea: Moving to NFT medals is a bold choice for the Atlas Games, but there was a specific reason. The goal is to introduce the CrossFit community to NFTs while making them more mainstream. This decision is also part of a larger project, but the Atlas Games Director, Alexis Leblanc-Bazinet, is keeping some details close to the vest.

Why this matters: NFTs, cryptocurrency, and the blockchain are becoming increasingly popular as more and more high-profile figures are getting involved. The Atlas Games using NFTs as medals is a historic moment for the sport, one that will create conversations as the Semifinals event prepares to use them more in the future.