The worlds of technology and sport have always been intertwined, but never as much as what we are currently witnessing. Throughout many sporting disciplines. such as football, basketball, athletics, tennis, and rugby, we are seeing technological advancements making a difference for not only the teams and players but also for the fans and their viewing experience. Below, we’ll take a look at some technological features that are changing the world of sport.
Sports Betting is Now a Prominent Part of Sporting Events
Whatever sport you watch, you can see the prominence of sports betting platforms and how they can make the games much more interesting. Online sportsbooks and platforms like Aussiebet.com allow you to place wagers on live games as you watch them, or find the best sportsbook platforms to use, which adds an extra layer of entertainment to the matches and also means you can win a pretty penny.
This has changed the way we place wagers on sports drastically as historically, you would have to visit your local bookmakers, whereas now, you can do it from your smartphone! Online sportsbooks like bet365 and Unibet have an amazing wealth of sports covered, like NFL predictions and NBA betting, and bet varieties too, and you can easily place wagers on your favorite team or player.
TV is Not the Only Way to Watch Live Sports
I can remember decades ago when I would watch football and basketball on the TV with my dad and brother¾we’d maybe get to watch a few live football matches at the weekend and then rely on catchup or review programs to see game highlights¾we didn’t even have smartphones!
Today, that has all changed and sports has never been as accessible, with live Internet streaming, smartphone apps, and social media platforms like YouTube. For example, I’m an NBA fan and I have the NBA app on my phone¾I can use this to watch matches live, keep up to date with stats, and watch highlights from other games. It’s amazing! It’s now much easier for us to watch live sports due to technology.
Stats and Data Become More Complex
Stats have always played a role in sports for records, achievements, and to argue who is the GOAT, for example. But those stats have historically been hard to find, whereas now, you can do a quick Google search and immediately be presented with a wealth of official stats from sports.
There are many third-party websites, with no affiliation to the league owners, that provide a complete statistical overview of the league and its players. Going back to the NBA again, Baskebtall-reference.com is one of my favorite sites¾I can go on this site and find detailed statistical information about any NBA or WNBA player, including game-by-game breakdowns and historical data. Never before have we had such easy access to a wealth of sporting data.
Athletes are Fitter, Stronger, and Faster
Moving away from the fan aspect of sports, what about the athletes themselves who are competing in sports today? In short, if you compare athletes today with those from past decades such as the 70s, 80s, and 90s, their fitness levels, strength, and overall physical prowess are usually superior, and this is due to advancements in sports fitness technology.
Athletes have access to some incredible fitness equipment and technology that allows them to keep their bodies in shape and perform at higher levels for longer. You only have to look at different sports to see records being broken and the shape these athletes keep themselves in. This means a better quality of sporting events with more competition and ultimately, a better viewing experience for the fans.
Medical Science has Improved Athletes’ Longevity
Building on the above point, technology and medical science have helped improve the longevity of athletes compared to past decades. Just look at LeBron James in the NBA¾this legend is still playing at an All-Star level in his 20th season at the age of 39!
This is unprecedented, and no other NBA player has been able to sustain that level of excellence for that long. Even the great Kareem Abdul Jabbar saw a decline in his productivity in his last few years in the league. This is mainly due to technological advancements in medical science, such as cryotherapy, together with LeBron’s dedication and work ethic. But we are seeing more and more athletes playing for longer as they get older.
VR is Paving the Way for a Different Type of Viewing Experience
Did you know that you can watch live sports games with a pitch-side or court-side view without even leaving your house? Yes! This is one of the more interesting ways that technology is improving sports. Products like Xtadium are popping up, which give you a live viewing experience simply by wearing your VR headset and tuning in to a live streaming feed.
This is making sports more accessible than ever and I only expect services like this to improve and become more prominent in the future as VR technology improves.
Ticket Vending is Easier
I can remember in the past when buying tickets for a sporting event was difficult and you had to use means like visiting the stadium or ticketing office or buying them over a phone call (yes, I’m that old!).
Now, all you have to do is open an app, like Seat Geek. on your smartphone and you can buy tickets to sporting events within a few minutes. This includes choosing your seat, getting an e-copy of the ticket, and even a VR preview of the seat and the view you will get! This has made sporting events more accessible and easy to attend for the general public.
The Future of the Sporting World Looks Promising
These are just some of the more prominent technological advancements that have changed the way we watch sports, their quality, and how they are played. Things like this should only grow in the future and as an avid sports fan, I am excited for the coming years to see what fans and players have in store!
