When SportsPro first compiled its list of the 20 sports technology trends to invest in now back in January 2020, Tokyo was preparing to host the Summer Olympics and social distancing at soccer grounds was still just a way for fans to separate themselves from opposing teams. But a lot has changed since then. Major streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) providers have won some of the biggest sports media deals, and new sports-focused esports platforms are emerging to reshape how viewers engage with live sport.
In addition to transforming how fans experience sports, emerging technologies are also reshaping how athletes train, compete and recover. Smart insights provide personalized training and recovery programs, improving athlete performance and reducing injury risk. Wearables enable coaches to monitor athletes in real-time and provide feedback in an instant — making progress feel more tangible. And the consolidation of wearables with sports tech platforms, like Firstbeat Sports, makes data analysis more efficient for athletic directors and medical teams.
Meanwhile, computer vision and other AI capabilities are allowing fitness tech to expand its use beyond just tracking movement patterns. Examples include Wilson’s X Connected Basketball, which uses embedded sensors to track shooting performance metrics such as shot arc and rotation – helping players make data-driven improvements to their game. These advances are improving accessibility to sports, as well. For example, Virtual Reality could allow fans to see the best seat in the stadium from their own homes and even play a game with their friends.