Image Source: A_IMG_5596” (CC BY 2.0) by Schwarz Johann
Sport is always going to involve the clash of individuals, or groups of individuals, in a bid for victory, but technology is playing an ever-increasing role in all areas of performance. Sports technology is big business which is underlined by the fact that the industry is set to be worth $62.4 billion by 2027. While some people believe that this increasing reliance on tech is diminishing the element of skill and ability in all kinds of sports, there’s no doubt that it also makes a key contribution in a number of areas.
Enhancing performance and analysis
No one could have missed the fact that athletes of all kinds continue to break records and perform at a higher level than ever before. One of the reasons for this is the tech that helps them. From wearing super-sophisticated running shoes that helped Eluid Kipchoge complete the first sub-2-hour marathon to the trackers that monitor every aspect of an NFL player’s performance, these all make a material difference.
They also make betting on the outcome of races and matches all the more exciting for fans of every sport. This has come at a perfect time in the US where the sports betting industry is really taking off. More and more states have come on board with many sports books opening up as time goes on. Sportsbooks rely on technology to allow betting online as well as to build in special offers for new players – as is amply demonstrated by Bonusfinder ahead of the launch in Ohio in January 2023 when official betting is set to begin.
Removing human error
Image Source: “Sydney International Tennis” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by RobPJKeating
Some of the greatest controversies in sports have arisen over the dubious judgements made by umpires and referees. Often this has involved a key moment that may have changed the whole result – Maradona’s “hand of god” moment against England in the 1986 soccer World Cup is a perfect example.
But now tech has stepped in that should prevent this kind of incident from going unnoticed. From the super accurate “hawkeye” that rules over tennis line calls to the VAR technology that can provide almost instant replays to game officials, nothing now escapes the camera’s gaze.
Even individual sports are benefiting, including MLB. A new system called PitchCom allows the pitcher to indicate to the catcher whether a curve-ball, a cutter or a change-up’s on the way, without any danger of the batter picking up the signal.
Making sports safer
Then there’s the safety aspect. Formula 1 motor racing used to claim drivers’ lives with distressing regularity. But tech-like gloves with built-in biometric sensors can now tell the pit team the exact state of a driver’s health after an accident – and how urgently they need to be helped.
Another example from high-impact sports like rugby or NFL is a mouthguard that can record the severity of a blow to the head and whether concussion is a danger.
So, all in all, tech is probably adding more to the sport than it is removing – a trend that is set to continue.
