Technological advancements have made significant contributions to each sector of the economy, including the sports industry. From better refereeing to injury prevention, technology has brought tremendous changes to sports. Furthermore, mobile applications and websites allow gamblers to place bets by using their smartphone.
Technology has made sports safer, enhanced more fabulous fan experiences, and made sports more competitive. By connecting sports enthusiasts with different games, it connects their emotions with domestic and international sports.
In this article, you will learn how technology is changing the sports industry. Let’s get started.
Extensive sports coverage
Technology has made it possible for people to watch a wide variety of tournaments around the world.
Unlike the old days where you could only watch your sport from a few channels, today there are a variety of media to watch sports tournaments with your friends and family. In case you miss watching live sports, you can still follow later during your own time. Additionally, you can use social media platforms to get the results of different tournaments at your convenience.
Prevention of injuries
Injuries such as torn ligaments and muscle tweaks are an all too common affair in the sports world. With technological advancement, it is possible to prevent injuries across different sports. For instance, devices like high-tech mouth guards use sensors to tell whether the injury is severe or minor. By identifying the seriousness of the injury, accidents that look normal but are dangerous can be detected and addressed.
Improved training
Physical training is a vital necessity of all athletes. Technology has made it possible for trainers and athletes to monitor their body changes and personalize training to meet their body goals. Additionally, the presence of excellent training facilities and powerful gym equipment has made training better and enjoyable.
Athletes are highly using sensors to tell hydration levels, heart rate, brain activities, and level of body temperatures to enable them to know when to take breaks. Additionally, the development of software to determine dietary plans for athletes has made the work of nutrition doctors much more manageable.
Ticket buying
In the past, buying tickets for live watching was a hassle. The process was long, time-consuming, and inefficient.
Today, you can purchase tickets online from ticket selling websites within a few seconds. With technology, you can choose the seat you want and save time and money. Buying tickets online has also helped sports authorities inefficient maintenance of records.
Excellent sportswear
Technology in sports has made a significant impact on sportswear. It has led to the innovation of a variety of lighter, adaptable, breathable clothing resistant to humidity. These kinds of sportswear are helping athletes to improve their performance quality.
Statistics tracking and data analytics
Player statistics records can easily get lost when managed manually. Technology allows safe maintenance of prominent athletes’ statistics that can be used for future reference. For example, SportVU records activities like athletes’ progress on the basketball court.
Sports lovers, athletes, and trainers can access vast amounts of past data of different champions. Data analytics is helping teams to improve in various areas, and coaches can come up with strategies to enable their teams to win.
Promotes fair game
Instant replays are helping referees in making the right decisions. In football, Video Assistant Referees ensure accurate decisions on the games’ results. Additionally, this technology is helping in giving red cards, awarding penalties, and showing whether the player was off-side.
Instant replays and hawk-eye technology in table tennis have greatly helped in the elimination of human errors. The technology ensures fair results of different games.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
Super viewing experience
The arrival of high-definition screens has made watching a game from home feel like a live stadium experience. Sports are now easily accessible because you can watch games and events using your smartphone even when you are away from home.
Efficient sports equipment
technology has led to the innovation of excellent equipment for sports that facilitate efficient training. High-quality sensors and cameras are helping in gathering and recording actual data of athletes’ performance which allows them to keep improving. For example, vibrating ‘smart’ suits available in the gym facilities track your movements and alert you when you perfect the routine.
Digital media
Digital media technology has made powerful improvements in the sports world. Today you don’t have to rely on televisions to watch your favorite games. Smartphones, tablets, and the internet have made it possible to stream live matches.
In addition, digital technology has improved sports betting. Using betting sites and mobile applications, you can now bet quickly and efficiently on your smartphone.
Technologies being used in sports
Below are some of the technologies used in the sports industry.
Sensor tools
Referees use sensors in cases where they can’t tell by looking at a goal whether it’s valid. There are a variety of sensors for different sports. Cricket, for instance, uses Hawk-Eye to determine the ball’s position.
Timing systems
Starting pistols come with clocks attached so they can time the race the moment it starts. Touchpads are placed at the finish lanes during swimming competitions, and wearable inertial sensors are used to determine performance. Moreover, racing events select the winners using photographs and laser beams.
RFID chips
RFID chips use antennas and are used mainly in long-distance races. By using them, viewers and broadcasters can pinpoint the exact location of contestants. These chips come in two types: passive and active chips. Active chips have an integrated battery and can tell when a contestant crosses a particular line. Passive chips contain sensors.
Bottom line
Technology is improving every aspect of our lives, from education to healthcare and sports. It has brought powerful sports equipment, and it’s also helping referees to make accurate decisions.
Technology has made a significant impact on the sports world like athletes training, competition, fans engagements and how they use content, and many more. It is powerfully transforming the sports world. Esports are surging, and researchers predict that the sports sector will be at $30 billion by 2024.
