People from all over the world, who don’t speak the same language or have the same culture, have found ways to embrace each other and put their differences aside in the name of sports. Sports have always united people. Going to a stadium or sports field is a common past-time for millions (if not billions) of people around the globe, but with the scourge of Covid-19 still hanging over our collective head, sports events have largely been put to a stop. With that being said, we also live in a time of increasingly advanced technology, and seeing our favourite teams online or via VR is no longer a thing of the past. You see, the future of sports is already here, and it’s changing the landscape forever.
How VR is Changing the Game
Stadiums want to create an entire event for their audiences these days. Now, it’s as much about the half-time show as it is about the match.
The implementation of AR and VR technology means that these sporting events can be replicated, and experienced outside of the venue for the very first time. The question is really whether the experience should look like something new – made for AR and VR – or should it incorporate as much of the old experience as possible? Is walking into a stadium, buying food, and finding your seats as much a part of the entire vibe as the actual game? VR specialists seem to think so.
At home VR events may also give viewers the opportunity to access things that they couldn’t in person – 3D rewind for example, or player profiles.
The reality is that sports has become globalized. The Fifa World Cup is no longer just about supporting your home team, and it’s not just Barcelona residents who support the Barcelona football team. As with everything else in this mad world, sports have become more and more accessible to the masses.
Sports in the Time of Covid-19
Covid-19 needs no introduction, but let’s just run through some stats quickly. At the time of writing, nearly 8 million people have contracted the virus, of which ±435,000 have died, and ±4 million have recovered. If you’ve developed Covid-fatigue and no longer think of this virus as a (VERY REAL) threat, it’s time you make some adjustments.
Covid-19 is highly contagious, so obviously sports events had to be cancelled. The Olympics, Formula One, and the NBA are just some of the events that have been affected. In reality, almost all over the events scheduled this year have been postponed.
So, what is an avid sports-fan to do? Switch to e-sports? That could work in the short term, but developers may have a better solution going forward.
VR and AR are already being used within the sporting world, so why not take it to the next level? The future of sports is already here, and we haven’t even noticed.
Covid-19 Has Driven Tech Forward – Whether We Like It or Not
The reality is that Covid-19 has driven technology forward a good few years. More people are working from home than ever, and VR and AR is already on the rise. With all of the cancelled sports events this year, we’re going to have to embrace this new technology more than ever. The future of sports is already here – we’ve just taken a minute to notice it.
