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Good morning and happy Monday! To be honest, after this weekend, you’d be forgiven for missing this weekend's biggest sport-tech headlines. Luckily for you, that’s exactly why we’re here. Bringing you the best that tech has to offer in the sports world, welcome back to The Sports Road!
Here's what we got for ya today:
- Chess: The Future
- A Game Changer
- Apple at it Again
- CHAMPIONS
Most valuable public market sports teams
Let's get into it!
Chess Like You’ve Never Seen it Before
Look, when talking about the world’s most exciting sports, we aren’t sure many would say Chess. To be honest, we’re not so sure anyone would…
Alright, alright. We’re kidding. In fact, being one of the most easily accessible sports out there at the moment, the sport has seen somewhat of a rebirth recently.
Whether it be at school, work, or even the train, you must have seen this screen before:
Taking over the online gaming scene, Chess.com has amassed insane numbers and doesn't seem like slowing down anytime soon. More importantly though, the app has shown the huge potential which the sport has – especially with the next generation…
So with that, the Global Chess League (GCL) kicks off next month.
For good reason, you may ask what that is… Let us explain.
Planning to combine modern tech trends with the traditional game, FIDE and Tech Mahindra are attempting to make the game more easily consumable for both die-hard and casual fans.
In its inaugural season, the company has already announced their plans to integrate 5G, Cybersecurity, and AI tech alongside moves to bring the game into the Metaverse and more.
Announcing this week that games should not be more than two and a half hours long, league Chairperson, Jagdish Mitra, also claimed that fan-based interactive features will be heavily used during the tournament.
From being able to simultaneously play games in the Metaverse, and being able to bet on players’ next moves, the organisers are planning to change the face of the sport.
“The thing we intend to do is to make the sport television- ready. Right now, the game is not television-ready. By television-ready, I mean very active commentary, making it simple enough for people to follow and making it fun.”
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Here we go Again
Like we say over and over again, things tend to go in phases in the sport tech world.
So, like we’ve been touching upon for a couple of weeks now, DATA IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS IN MODERN SPORT!
So far, we’ve specifically seen the immense value which AI and tracking technologies hold in its application. Today though, we’re talking about something else…
Wearable technology.
With that, we’re talking about one of the industries biggest names – Catapult.
Working with teams such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea, the company’s technology has already reached the highest levels of sport. Alright, we know. Not Chelsea…
The reason we’re talking about them today? Well, this weekend they announced their newest innovation – Vector Line.
What stands out about Vector Line compared to the company’s other products is its targeted market. Rather than only being available to sports elite, Vector line is a cost effective product focused on making the whole process of acquiring data more streamlined
This is how they’re planning on doing so:
- Load Management Metrics: Taking key metrics used by some of the best teams in the world, Catapult are looking to ensure and improve player safety. Providing data on how to effectively manage a players workload, the company can play a key role in optimising player fitness to aid performance
- Flexible Nature: Allowing teams to manage data through a new shared cloud, not only can coaches work from anywhere, but teams can allow experts from different regions to analyse the data.
- Instant Results: Like everyone knows, timing is everything in sport. Seeing as data seamlessly transfers and becomes available immediately, teams won’t have to miss a thing!
“In just a short space of time, the Vector Core solution has simplified our load management practices… It allows us to share the same data across the different performance levels in a consistent manner. Through this improved process, we’ve been able to increase coach communication and bring our developing players closer to the benchmarks we set for the First Team.”
The Game is Changing
With rumours seriously intensifying about the potential announcement of Apple’s very own VR headset this weekend, the way we consume and play sports could be changing forever…
It’s no secret that Apple is keen on getting involved in the sports scene – and I mean, why not?!
We’ve spoken about it before, but the benefits are VERY clear…
While this gadget may not be directly linked to our favourite games, the potential is there to see.
Already having made deals with some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations, its implementation could serve to completely change the way we consume sport.
“One selling point for the headset will be viewing sports in an immersive way. The company already offers games from Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball on Apple TV Plus, but it's looking to make that a richer experience.”
With the technology being able to create an immersion unlike any other, fans without the opportunity to go to games would be able to experience the atmosphere as if they were there!
Its potential impacts don’t just stop there though… The technology could actually improve performance at the highest levels of sport.
In an announcement made last month, USA Hockey – The United States’ official Hockey governing body – announced that they had been using the technology to train athletes.
Working to train the cognitive side of players’ games, the technology can mimic real life scenarios. By doing this, the technology can further help improve decision making and reactions.
Who knows where this will go, but it is definitely one to keep an eye on…
We Need to Talk About: This Weekend’s Football
Congratulations, Man City!
Look, this season has been a weird one for the Citizens. From a surprisingly slow start which had fans the world over questioning them, to allegedly breaching FFP (over 100 times), to then quite literally becoming one of the best teams we have *ever* seen.
Oh, and they're on course for the treble.
Look, it’s not like they did it without any help. Not taking anything away from City’s win, but having two wins in their last seven games, Arsenal’s form of late has been quite nice to them…
So from a favourite, we go to an underdog…
ONE. MORE. WIN. That’s all Dortmund need to do to secure their first Bundesliga in over ten years.
That’s right, following a shock 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig over the weekend, Bayern Munich may be about to lose out on their first league title in a decade…
Maybe Todd Boehly was onto something by letting go of Tuchel. Actually, nevermind. He most definitely was not…
Despite all that, we still have a story that may trump both of those…
Having held an unbeaten streak of OVER TWO YEARS, Barcelona’s women's team set out to face Real Madrid.
Losing out 2-1, the 64 game – yes, you read that correctly – was ended.
Ah, Football. Never change.
Quick bites
- Boxing: A Big Night!
- Man City: Go for GLORY
- Tennis: Andy Murray drops out
Meme of the day
Disgraceful
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1)
May 21, 2023
😂 😂
Quote of the day
"You work 11 months to see this, it's a day to celebrate with the fans, family and everybody. It stays amazing. So much hard work. I know people expect us to win a lot, but we work every day for this."
Photo of the day
Two Greats!
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