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The future of sport

The latest future sport news, features and analysis. Verdict covers the technologies and innovations taking the world of sport into tomorrow, from wearables to data analytics and new sports to era-defining developments. Technology is driving transformation of almost every sport, but the game remains the same, and we’re here with insight from leading experts.

27 Mar

Comment wire On demand

Esports moving online due to coronavirus pandemic

The Covid-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on esports, one of the fastest-growing areas of the gaming sector.

27 Mar

Coronavirus case studies: How ClassPass is using technology to support the fitness industry

With an estimated 20% of the world’s population is now under lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, numerous industries face uncertainty.

26 Mar

Comment wire Entertainment

Esports and Generation Hashtag can boost non-endemic brand growth

Esports – organized multiplayer video game competitions – is estimated to become a $1bn industry in 2020.

26 Mar

The game is not over: Esports is filling the void for sports fans

There is nothing that brings the UK together like a great game.

13 Mar

IBM and RFU: Growing the game of rugby, off pitch and online

It’s an old rugby cliché, but, so often, much of the important work that goes towards winning a match can go unnoticed to the casual observer.

7 Feb

NURVV nets $9m funding for next-gen sports wearables

Biomechanics sports startup NURVV has raised $9m in funding to help bring its sensor technology to market and expand its line of products.

3 Dec

Data analytics is rife in tennis, but could AI replace humans entirely?

A robot arm strikes a tennis ball, serving it at 220 miles per hour.

13 Nov

How RFID technology is transforming the NFL

It’s been 12 years since the first time a National Football League (NFL) game took place on British soil.

11 Nov

Football and 5G: Connecting the beautiful game

Despite all the fanfare and hype, it’s fair to say that 5G hasn’t yet revolutionised consumers’ lives.

30 Sep

Ajax FC bolster defence with Mitek’s facial authentication technology

Facial authentication technology - Verdict

Eredivisie champions Ajax Football Club have turned to facial authentication technology in a bid to verify the identity of ticket buyers and improve security for their fan base.

20 Sep

Predictive analytics names Rugby World Cup winner

With the Rugby World Cup kicking off today in Japan, fans around the global watched as the hosts beat Russia 30-10.

11 Sep

Intel partners with Tokyo Olympics for “most innovative Olympics in history”

Ahead of the 2020 Olympics due to take place next summer in Tokyo, Intel has announced that it is partnering with the International Olympic Committee to “create innovative experiences for athletes, attendees and Olympic fans around the world”.

12 Aug

The UK can become top of the league when it comes to esports

When you think of the sporting heroes of our time, Lewis Hamilton and his five Formula 1 world championships might come to mind.

1 Aug

Premier League predictions 2019-20: Here’s how the season will pan out (according to AI)

From Leicester City winning the title in 2016 to Liverpool overturning a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in last season’s Champions League, football is impossible to predict.

1 Aug

Streaming

Non-gaming firms are overpaying for esports brand sponsorship: Report

Non-gaming firms are likely to be overpaying for esports brand sponsorship deals, according to Sportcal, a sports market intelligence company.

22 Jul

How IBM and Wimbledon are combining technology and tennis

Just last weekend, fans around the world were on the edge of their seats watching the nail-biting finale to the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis fortnight.

4 Jul

Automation

Roborace: The futuristic motorsport providing a testbed for autonomous cars

A new form of motor racing got underway this year, one in which the driver is optional.

3 Jul

Predictive analytics model crowns Wimbledon champion two weeks early

Data science and analytics company Alteryx have utilised the power of predictive analytics to crown the Wimbledon 2019 men’s singles champion weeks before the final.

28 Jun

Behind the scenes with communications provider Mitel ahead of MLB’s London debut

The London Stadium, the centrepiece of the 2012 Olympics and now home to Premier League football club West Ham United, has undergone a radical transformation ahead of Major League Baseball’s London debut this weekend.

28 Jun

Esports: The network tech behind the talent

A secure and reliable network is crucial in esports, where milliseconds can be the difference between winning and losing.

13 Jun

How Leatherhead FC is using IBM’s AI to up their game

From IBM Watson’s analysis of tennis players’ performance at Wimbledon, to statistical analysis driving success in Major League Baseball, the use of technology has become an integral part of professional sport, with artificial intelligence at the heart of this.

6 Jun

Crypto

Benfica kicks off cryptocurrency payments in the world of football

SL Benfica fans will be able to use cryptocurrency to buy tickets and merchandise thanks to an unprecedented partnership announced on Wednesday.

29 May

Baku Europa League final controversy promotes VR’s sporting potential

Tonight will see two of Europe’s leading football teams fight for the Europa League trophy, yet all of the talk in the build up to the game has focused on the organiser, UEFA, and the host, Baku.

21 May

Social media is fuelling sponsorship growth… but the Premier League isn’t taking full advantage

In the internet age, sponsoring a sports organisation equates to much more than having your logo in front of television viewers for 90 minutes a week.

20 May

What can a tennis legend teach us about leadership?

Andre Agassi conquered the court, lost it all and fought back from the brink during his two decades as a professional tennis player.

29 Apr

Here East: Building a home for esports in the UK

Situated between a flowing river and a seemingly endless field of green, you might mistake the setting for the middle of nowhere, but the picturesque Here East digital hub is a stone’s throw from Stratford, London, and home to some of the United Kingdom’s biggest and brightest companies.

5 Apr

EA kicks off first FIFA e-PL final, but is there a major issue with online video gaming?

Behind closed doors at a cinema venue in London, UK, the first e-Premier League (e-PL) finals kicked off with 40 players of the FIFA 19 video game representing the 20 current premier league football teams across two platforms – Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

3 Apr

The tech on show at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

After numerous warm-ups, the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will get its first taste of the Premier League tonight, as Spurs welcome Crystal Palace to their new home.

19 Mar