Technology is heavily linked to competitive sports, and we continue to see its use expand.
Sports scientists use technology to track performance data, looking for ways to turn many small gains into a sizable advantage.
Fans and sports punters now have access to huge vats of data on games and performance, giving them a much clearer understanding of performance and statistics.
Advances in technology have also helped improve the experience of sports fans in a multitude of ways. Automated race timing was introduced in athletics in 1964.
Serve speed technology was first used in tennis in 1991 while Video Assistant Referees (VAR) has been in the Premier League since the 2019-2020 season.
Betting options have also expanded. There’s now a growing list of betting sites that not only offer bets on the outcome of events and individual games but also provide more specific bets like the total number of corners that will occur in a game or whether a certain player will be sent off.
As a result, the number of ways a betting enthusiast can bet and the number of ways to win have both increased exponentially as the world of online sports betting continues to expand.
Statisticians and statistics lovers are especially well served by technology in sports. In-game statistics, like distances covered by a specific player, or their passing success rate are only possible because of technology.
Even if an individual didn’t get the opportunity to watch an event live, these statistics are updated and shared on a multitude of sites, allowing for a more in-depth analysis of player performance than ever before.
Not only is this good news for fans who like to stay abreast of the latest figures for their team, but it’s also beneficial for those who like to bet on their favourite sports at real money online casino sites since it now affords them access to the same data the bookmakers have.
A new trend has also seen many teams creating their own cryptocurrency tokens. Fans who buy these tokens get ticket-buying privileges and access to better deals on merchandise through the process of token gating.
However, as an added perk, in some cases, it also earns them the right to have a voice on certain team-related issues.
Although fan tokens are still relatively new, they are being embraced by national teams and individual players, including some of the biggest names in sports like football.
The tokens not only directly benefit fans, by offering greater interaction with their favourite teams, but they also have indirect benefits.
When a new token launches, the team behind it usually receives an influx of cash that can be used to build or improve the team or its facilities. This also means alternate means of increasing revenue streams that can be used to reinvest in the team.
At sports venues, technology is being implemented in many ways. As well as cashless payment systems, some venues now offer app-based purchases, with food and drink even delivered to seats so spectators never have to miss a second of the action.
Even security is being improved, thanks to the use of facial-detection cameras and AI. Attendees who cause trouble are picked up on camera so ground bans can be applied.
Similar technology is being implemented in the sports themselves to help ensure greater adherence to the rules. Ball line technology has been used in tennis for years, since 2001 when Hawkeye was first introduced. It helps identify whether a ball is in or out, eliminating the need for umpires to make the call.
Similar technology is now being used in football, and Video Assistant Referees have recently been introduced to many other major tournaments and leagues.
Fringe sports, which do not typically get a lot of attention from media or sports fans, are now receiving greater exposure through technology too. It’s easy to record footage, even on mobile phones, which can be uploaded to video-sharing websites like YouTube.
If clips or footage get shared on social media, it can help greatly increase interest in that sport.
With greater exposure comes greater opportunity for fans who want to watch or participate in the game, even resulting in endorsements and official sponsorship deals at times.
Virtual reality has yet to take off in the way many people expected it to, but the technology is improving and the hardware is more affordable than ever.
VR and AR in sports already enable gamers to play sports in virtual worlds, and it represents a good opportunity for fans who can’t get to venues to be able to experience sports as though they were there.
Future AR and VR plans may even make it possible for users to experience the game through the eyes of the players, rather than the eyes of fans.
In short, technology continues to advance rapidly, and because of the money involved in sports, technological growth continues to lead to some amazing improvements.
Most sports rely heavily on technology, and with sectors like virtual reality, augmented reality, cryptocurrency, and blockchain, we are already seeing new improvements come to fruition every year, with many more just around the corner.
