Mohammed al-Gergawi, the United Arab Emirates' minister for Cabinet affairs announced the start of the World Future Sports Games in December 2017 in Dubai, the Associated Press reports.

Those contests next year will include robotic swimming, running, wrestling and car racing, as well as drone flying, as this city of futuristic skylines yearns to be ahead of the curve.

"We are trying to bring the future closer to us," said al-Gergawi, as he handed out a $250,000 purse to Luke Bannister of Somerset in the inaugural edition of the World Drone Prix.

World Future Sports Games are tentatively scheduled for Dec. 28-30, 2017. Officials hope to hold the games once every two years after that.