Technology has long been a part of sport. After all, the fancy breathable and stretchy fabrics that we all wear to the gym were originally developed to help athletes perform better and gain a competitive edge.
But the ways that technology has permeated sport have expanded rapidly in recent years. It’s not just ultra-high-definition TV broadcasts and instant replays, either. Today, technology sits at the very core of most professional sports, enhancing the experience for everyone, no matter whether you’re an athlete striving for peak performance or a fan cheering them on from the stands or your living room.
The list is endless, but here are some biggest areas where technology is reshaping sports.
Ensuring Safety
There was once a time when safety in sport was not a big priority. In Ancient Rome and Greece, there were even sports where people would sometimes fight to the death for the entertainment of others. Even in the 20th century, motorsports is no stranger to serious injuries and worse, while head injuries are commonplace in sports like football and soccer.
Thankfully, technology offers sophisticated tools to minimize safety risks and improve responses to injuries.
In Formula 1, for example, drivers now wear “biometric gloves” that are equipped with sensors to monitor their vital signs and detect potential G-force-induced blackouts. This allows for immediate medical intervention if necessary by sending this data to trackside doctors.
The National Football League is another sport deploying technology to improve safety. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the NFL analyzes vast amounts of player data, covering everything from practice drills to game statistics, to better predict and prevent injuries.
AI algorithms can identify subtle changes in movement patterns that might indicate an underlying issue before it becomes a full-blown injury. This proactive approach allows teams to implement preventative measures and keep their players safe on the field.
Sports Betting
The legalization of sports betting in the US in 2018 helped to kickstart a revolution in the industry. Sports fans no longer have to travel to another city or even another state to have a flutter. Instead, a plethora of betting apps let them place wagers from almost anywhere.
With this explosion in interest, big sportsbooks have worked hard to build up market share in the country. Many, like Borgata, have done this by offering sizable promotions to new customers. They’ve become very popular amongst sports fans, though it’s always prudent to read terms and conditions here before claiming an offer. Typically, they’re available to punters who create an account, make a deposit, and place a bet within a set timeframe.
Another way bookies try to stand out from the crowd is by offering real-time odds and a vast array of markets. This allows fans to wager on everything from which team will win to the number of three-pointers in a basketball game.
This wouldn’t be possible without the immense data collection capabilities of modern technology. Stats on players, teams, and even ground and weather conditions are streamed in real-time, feeding complex algorithms that constantly adjust odds based on the latest information. This creates a dynamic and exciting experience for sports bettors, further amplifying the thrill of watching a game.
Augmented Reality
Having graphics appear on screen during sports games is not a new invention, primitive examples of this are as old as television broadcasts themselves. However, augmented reality technology is making this significantly better.
In field games like soccer and football, this augmented reality is used to help show the offside or scrimmage lines, making it easier for fans watching from home to follow what’s going on. Similar techniques are used in golf and hockey to show viewers the location and trajectory of the ball or puck.
Soccer and Formula 1 also use AR to seamlessly integrate sponsor logos onto the live images, making it appear like they are physical advertising boards. This allows the promoters of the sport to tailor the sponsorships to regions, making them more relevant to individual countries.
