Mumbai: The accessibility of the Internet has been the biggest turning point for humankind. The easy access to high-speed internet connectivity with the availability of good quality camera phones has led the world to the concept of live streaming. The sports industry is one such industry that has hugely benefited from this development. The sports sector has, in a short span of time, gone through significant changes in terms of adapting to this new age technology. Sports industry isn’t what it was a decade ago or even a few years ago. Digitization has replaced traditional means with modern ways to bring about a change in the world of sports. Broadcasting local-level matches has brought in a complete change in dynamics within the sports sector, giving better exposure to emerging athletes and opening up a horizon of opportunities for them.
However, sports digitization isn’t only restricted to sports broadcasting, sports digitization is a bigger umbrella and broadcasting is a small part of it. It truly is the amalgamation of all aspects of sports with technology. From live broadcasting of sports to player data tracking and maintenance to something like a "decision review facility" that is being adapted by associations across the world to ensure fair play and an unbiased decision-making process by the referees and the umpires, all these things come under sports digitization.
The number of sports-specific applications coming on various app stores is a proof of the fact that the perception of sports is changing, and if one goes to notice, the majority of these apps talk about hardcore statistics, player data, and match data, and the fans have started to grow a keen interest in analyzing the game from a data point of view. This has probably been a paradigm shift in the way sports go forward, and this has surely opened up a lot of opportunities for the players. The player data and performance tracking analysis have actually helped players understand their game, figure out a pattern in their behaviour on the field, and then work towards reducing their weak points.
The inclusion of IOT (Internet of Things) devices in sports has in fact also helped sports federations collect and store data. Various agencies have come up in the market to make sure that these devices, these facilities are affordable and accessible to pro tier organizations and players alike. From the outside, this may feel like a natural progression for a sports organization to switch to digital and use technology to maintain data, but an insider from the sports industry can vouch that this has led to a transformation in the selection process, giving opportunity to the real talent from probably the remotest parts of the country. The devices have provided extensive data that is essential for the sports teams to determine their performance patterns. This has made the process of analysis almost effortless and more rational and logical, without any preconceived notions or biases.
The inclusion of technology has brought a new pathway for emerging talents and has helped provide grassroots sports with a center stage along with the international leagues. And for those who are still in the process of understanding the functioning and importance of data tracking, sports digitization, in its simplest form of live streaming local matches to the audience on the internet, has also led to exponential opportunities. Today, the popularity of local leagues is much higher than that of professional leagues in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India, and with such a huge popularity and loyal fan base, sports streaming is becoming a habit or a luxury that leagues at this level can afford. The live streaming of matches from such leagues has helped domestic players take their game to a global audience and, in some way, put their foot in the door for a higher, professional level of sport. The new and emerging talents are getting much-needed exposure to showcase their skills/talent.The barriers restricting these athletes from reaching their maximum potential are now being blurred and have almost vanished.
The evolution that sports in India are undergoing has led to many young grassroots players making it to amateur leagues, which has substantially increased. It has benefited the athletes, the federations, and the viewers by continuing to improve and develop a sports culture within society. With such developments, the underdogs can continue to achieve their once far-fetched dreams. These changes at the core really makes one hopeful about Indians being able to set a standard at the global level.
The author of this article is SportVot founder & CEO Sidhhant Agarwal.
