Sportstech & Member News

Over the past few days, the Connected Ball "Fussballlliebe" has been reported on worldwide. It is the first Official Match Ball produced for the UEFA European Football Championship tournament that incorporates Connected Ball #Technology, enabling match officials to make accurate decisions faster. The innovation contributes to UEFA's semi-automated offside technology. As demonstrated during the match Belgium-Slovakia, it can also help VAR officials to identify every individual touch of the ball, reducing time spent resolving handball and penalty incidents.

Kinomap – the platform & community providing the largest library of video footage from real-world locations for virtual cardio workouts – is now fully integrated within the one-and-only Technogym Ecosystem. The open-platform nature of the Technogym Ecosystem means that it seamlessly combines Artificial Intelligence, on-demand content, software, apps, fitness equipment and wearable devices.

SportsTechX have released a new report on Innovation Challenges faced by Sports Organisations. Some of the key trends from different stakeholders in the sports industry include;

- The Athlete - integrated solutiosn to manage various needs

- The Fan - enhancing the fan experience at home and in venue

- The Executive - improved operational efficiency and revenue opportunities.

World Sport Action has announced a new partnership with US Youth Soccer (USYS), the largest youth sporting organization in the United States with almost 2.5 million soccer players. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for both organizations as they join forces to drive real-time participant data analytics and, starting in June 2025, revolutionize soccer administration, engagement, and participation through cutting-edge technology and automation.

Catapult Group, the global leader in sports technology solutions form professional teams has announced an exclusive multi-year agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Catapult will provide comprehensive athlete monitoring solutions to the world's most successful national team in FIFA's World Cup history.

After years of innovating the industry’s leading GPS sport watches–defined by long battery life, an incredibly easy-to-use interface, and robust training software, COROS announced today that it will bring the same formula to an all-new, solar-powered GPS bike computer, the COROS DURA. COROS DURA supports 120 consecutive hours of ride time with full GPS on a single charge. Also included with COROS DURA is a full training platform at your fingertips with the COROS app and desktop-friendly COROS Training Hub at no extra cost or monthly fee. 

Indian fantasy sports operator Dream Sports is shutting down its corporate venture capital unit, barely two years after it was launched. The company unveiled Dream Capital in August 2021 with a $250m commitment and planned to invest in gaming, sports and fitness startups in neighbouring areas to its core business, online fantasy sports platform Dream11. Dream Sports is India’s market leader in fantasy sports, having made more than $460m in revenue in 2022. But it is facing cash issues of its own due to the government imposing a 28% goods and services tax on industries including online gaming from this month. The move has led to businesses across the sector making heavy cuts to staff and operations.

The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) has partnered with global talent management and activation platform VLAST, to launch a new app that connects athletes with commercial opportunities and streamlines communication across the QAS. The QAS Athlete App will provide QAS-supported athletes with access to important updates, exclusive offers from QAS partners, opportunities for paid appearances, training and education, and flexible work opportunities.

For two weeks in July, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) hosts Wimbledon. IBM has been partnering with the Club for more than three decades, enhancing coverage of The Championships and engaging fans with rich data-driven insights. This year, some of the most compelling stories of the tournament will be told with the help of IBM® watsonx™, the enterprise-ready generative AI platform. The new Catch Me Up feature, available in the Wimbledon app and website, provides AI-generated summaries for every singles player—describing what happened in their last match and the challenges they face in their next one. Users can personalize their Catch Me Up list by adding their favorite players. If matches are live or video highlights are available, Catch Me Up provides relevant links.

Hussey Seating Company, a global leader in spectator seating, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire select assets from Camatic Seating, an Australian-based competitor. The acquisition will be limited to Camatic’s intellectual property, trademarks, designs, and tooling on select seat products.  Camatic Seating previously was a dominant player in outdoor NFL and MLS stadium seating, completing high profile projects like the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field, Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, LA’s SoFi Stadium, Wimbledon’s All England Club, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the launch of ICC Immersive, a revolutionary app designed to transform the way fans experience cricket. ICC Immersive invites fans to step onto the cricket pitch from the comfort of their homes, offering a virtual experience. Developed in partnership with Quidich, a leader in sports technology, this app debuts during the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and is available for Apple Vision Pro users. The app harnesses advanced tracking technologies and various data sources to create an authentic replica of the stadium environment.

chelon has acquired ThriveX, signifying that the emerging fitness equipment brand is bullish on the recovery space. ThriveX is known for its advanced recovery solutions such as cold immersion therapy systems, smart hybrid saunas and compression boots and is a leading contender for Beyond Activ’s Startup of the Year award. ThriveX, which launched last June in Singapore and reported over $600,000 in sales within months, has since expanded its reach to the U.S., UAE, India, Thailand and Russia. 

A new high-end health app, Compound, is promising to help men shed kilos and improve their health, with its initial cohort of 16 patients showing promising results. Compound is the fifth product from Australian telehealth provider, Eucalyptus. At AUD $995 per month for non-medicated members, or AUD $1,495 per month for patients prescribed GLP1 medications (like Ozempic, Semaglutide or Saxenda), Eucalyptus says Compound is the ultimate high-end online men’s health clinic. For the price, patients get access to testing, analysis and medial advice, supplements and coaching. 

Sports technology leader Hudl is on the verge of acquiring football analytics firm StatsBomb, as reported by The Athletic. Hudl, a premier performance analysis platform in the football industry, aims to consolidate its services in data, video, and analytics.  StatsBomb now covers over 100 football competitions worldwide, including three-quarters of Premier League and Championship teams, as well as two-thirds of MLS clubs. A significant draw for Hudl is StatsBomb’s potential to expand into other sports. In June 2022, StatsBomb introduced an American football product, leveraging their football analytics expertise to create a comprehensive college sport database. 

The Australia and New Zealand Sports Technology Awards (ANZSTA) have been launched for 2024, ANZSTA celebrates excellence and innovation in technology across the Sports, Media, Entertainment, Health and Technology ecosystem. ANZSTA are supported by the Australian Sports Technologies Network, and winners will be presented in Melbourne on Wednesday 23rd October during Australia Sports Innovation Week.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Members will vote on the creation of Olympic Esports Games at the upcoming IOC Session held during the Paris Games. The IOC is already in advanced discussions with a potential host, and an announcement can be expected very soon after the last formalities have been finalised.

Quantum 2032 Challenge projects will demonstrate quantum technologies that can provide innovative solutions and enhancements related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It also encourages collaboration among quantum scientists, sports industry experts and partners. Proposals may seek funding up to $1 million and must define a project in Queensland which seeks to address challenges related to delivery of, or Australian athletes’ participation in, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, through the application of quantum technologies, specifically quantum computing, quantum sensing or quantum communications.

Australian-based Outpoint Group has confirmed dates for its 2024 US Sports Venue Tour. The 10-day Tour from 19-28 October will incorporate NFL, NBA and NHL game day experiences as well as venue and high performance center tours including US Bank Stadium – Lions v Vikings (Minneapolis), Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle), University of Washington (Seattle), Chase Center (San Francisco), SoFi Stadium - Vikings v Rams (Los Angeles), LA Chargers High Performance Centre (Los Angeles), Intuit Dome (Los Angeles), Allegiant Stadium – Chiefs v Raiders (Las Vegas), Sphere (Las Vegas) and T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas). Up to 15 places are available for key sports decision-makers and influencers.

Vicsport has announced a partnership with revolutioniseSPORT, an online management platform that currently works with over 260 governing bodies and 18,000 clubs. The partnership also includes the naming rights for the revolutioniseSPORT Digital Forum, an annual event run by Vicsport that looks at the latest trends and exciting technological solution throughout the sport and recreation industry.

Future of Sport Lab (FSL) announced that nine Canadian sport tech startups have been accepted into its acclaimed incubator program. The companies come from a range of sectors including AI, athlete training, fan engagement, wearable technology and smart equipment, analytics and sports betting. Each of the startups will receive immersive programming in partnership with leading business incubator the DMZ, access to leading academics, and an opportunity to engage and receive mentorship from leaders across the FSL network.

Genius Sports and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) have agreed to a global sports betting integrity information sharing and wider anti-match-fixing partnership. Genius Sports is the trusted integrity partner to over 150 sports leagues and federations worldwide, including the NFL, Premier League, PGA TOUR and DFB. It provides sports with comprehensive integrity services including 24/7 bet monitoring and reporting, bespoke education tools and robust intelligence solutions.

World Athletics and Tata Communications today announced a five-year global host broadcasting services deal covering World Athletics Series events. From 2025, Tata Communications will be a key strategic supplier for World Athletics, with a view to elevating innovation and audience engagement to new heights. As the host broadcaster of World Athletics Series events, Tata Communications will take on the pivotal role of crafting immersive coverage, and delivering customised, world-class live content across continents.

USA Track & Field has partnered with etrainu to make significant upgrades to USATF Campus, the online learning management system used for coaching education courses. The move will make courses easier to access through integration with USATF Connect powered by Sport:80. The revived USATF Campus will be the hub for online learning  including the newly released USATF Level 1 and Developmental Coach courses.

Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced its expansion into the Middle East through a partnership with leading football performance specialists The Player. Aspiring footballers from across the globe can now study a GIS university degree whilst immersing themselves in an elite football environment in Dubai.

The ICC announcement that the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup would be held in the U.S. and the West Indies was made in November 2021, but the physical construction of Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (in East Meadows, New York) didn’t begin until February 2024. Populous, a company known for permanent sports venues domestically and abroad, was tapped by the organization to plot out the design of the temporary structure on Long Island. Hosting eight Group Stage matches in the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, the new venue was constructed in less than half a year which included architectural design by Populous and technological planning by PMY Group.

A global leader in AI automated sports video, Spiideo, announced the successful completion of a $20 million funding round led by Munich-based growth equity firm, Cipio Partners. The company will use this new investment to further accelerate innovation by expanding its product and AI teams, and drive growth through an expanded international sales team. Spiideo’s products are installed in over 6,000 venues and used by more than 4,000 teams across English football’s Premier League, NHL, NBA, Serie A, MLS, Ligue 1, NCAA, Liga MX, and Bundesliga.

Apple today previewed watchOS 11, with features for Apple Watch that build on its leading sensor technology, advanced algorithms, and science-based approach to offer breakthrough insights into users’ health and fitness, and more personalization than ever. The new Vitals app surfaces key health metrics and context to help users make more informed day-to-day decisions, and the ability to measure training load offers a game-changing new experience when working out for improved fitness and performance.

STWS have formed a partnership with HiG Sports in Mumbai for Australia Sports Innovation Week (ASIW) 2024, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most respected sports innovation and technology experience which in 2024 is returning to Melbourne, where it had been held from 2015 to 2019. With HiG Sports, the partnership will encourage and facilitate bi-lateral trade, knowledge and investment outcomes with sport being the driver to facilitate stronger connections between India and Australia.

Centr, the brand founded by actor Chris Hemsworth that combines top-tier fitness equipment with expert guidance in fitness, food, and well-being, made a significant impact at HYROX’s inaugural Manhattan race on June 1. 5,300 athletes experienced the new Centr x HYROX competition gear, showcasing Centr’s entry into the competitive fitness space. In addition to the race, Centr announced the launch of a newly expanded commercial-grade equipment line, now available globally for gyms, studios, and HYROX affiliate partners.

Fitbit is hoping to crack the market of wearable trackers for kids with their Ace LTE, a location-tracking smartwatch that incorporates activity gamification. The device features an array of small video games that children can play for limited periods before being told they must unlock more game time by meeting a certain activity goal. Youngsters can also play with the watch’s built-in Tamagotchi-esque game, the eejie.

Cisco and McLaren Racing have announced an expanded global partnership that now incorporates Cisco’s security solutions. This extension provides the team with comprehensive network visibility, enhanced threat intelligence, and streamlined security management across all their network operations. Professional sports organizations face a unique and elevated intensity of cyber threats. The combination of high-value data, widespread media coverage, and the involvement of various stakeholders makes these organizations prime targets for cyberattacks.

SportsTechX has released its Global SportsTech Ecosystem Report for 2024. The Report highlights a wave of consolation (M&A) as well as new funds & initiatives consistently entering the industry. Three key finding for this year include B2B solutions gaining importance, fitness tech continuing to attract investors and BigTech (eg Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta & others) heavily investing in sports, in various ways. 

Deakin University has announced a three-year partnership extension with the Geelong Football Club, carrying the longstanding relationship between the two organisations through to the end of 2026. As a Co-major partner of the Cats AFLW program, Deakin University and the Cats will collaborate across Deakin's School of Exercise and Nutrition Science and Geelong's High-Performance teams, by sharing training facilities, access to the GMHBA Stadium, and enhancing student engagement opportunities.

Twinlabs.ai combine digital twins and real-time data to transform the sports events management space. The company recently won the Confluent 2024 Data Streaming Startup Challenge. Twinlabs.ai's digital twin technology utilizes Confluent Cloud’s data streaming capabilities to offer customers the ability to create and operate digital twins 100x cheaper than current solutions. They do this via pre-built integrations and templates, alongside a flexible and more affordable microservices architecture. Real-time data allows organizers to predict, optimize and plan in the digital twin’s risk-free environment while also generating a feedback loop where changes made in the virtual can be implemented in the physical.

Squash Queensland is teaming up with QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Protobuild students, under the guidance of Vibhor Pandey and the Innovation Central Brisbane (IBC) team, to develop sport technology solutions, specific to squash. In May ICB gathered 80 participants from Queensland's sport community, government, academia, and big tech for the QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Sport Innovation Workshop to explore what's possible in sports tech. Last week the group gathered again, this time with hand-selected QUT students for the QUT Sport Innovation Hackathon! Five teams will build a prototype of their project over the next 8 weeks.

Global sports data, live streaming and AI pioneer Stats Perform today announced it has secured the rights to exclusively collect and distribute official data and live streams for the ICC to licensed betting operators around the world. It includes the ICC T20 Men’s and Women’s World Cups, Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy, and the ICC World Test Championship Final. Stats Perform will provide a comprehensive range of services for the ICC events to its wide portfolio of licensed betting operator partners, including real-time ball-by-ball match data and low latency video streams.

Sword Health, a pioneer of AI Care, artificial intelligence powering the delivery of care, announced a financing round of $US 130 million putting its valuation at over $US 3 billion. Sword has reinvented the way care is delivered, starting with back, joint, and muscle pain and has expanded to women’s pelvic health issues and sedentariness. The company has delivered over three million AI sessions to members to date and is available to over 10,000 employers across three continents.

USTA'a new strategic investment initiative, USTA Ventures, has invested in PlayReplay, a tennis technology company featuring an electronic line-calling (ELC) system set to increase access to accurate, user-friendly ELC for junior, adult and recreational play nationwide. The PlayReplay ELC system utilizes a minimally intrusive camera solution that provides a level of accuracy and precision not previously seen in replay technology priced for recreational competition. Through the PlayReplay app, or a touchscreen that can be installed courtside, players can immediately access necessary player and ball tracking data, “challenge” a line call and receive a visual representation of where the ball landed and an in/out ruling.

Melbourne-based sports technology company Catapult Group International (ASX: CAT) has topped $US100 million ($AUD 152 million) in annual revenue for the first time, with solid growth in free cashflow helping the company deliver an underlying profit US$9.37 million in FY24. Catapult has been working alongside sports teams since 2006 providing wearable technology and video analysis that delivers key data to optimise player performance and avoid injury. It also assists clubs in recruiting and scouting for talent on the field. The technology is currently used by more than 4,000 elite sporting teams in more than 100 countries, with the business supported by a global workforce of 400.

Leading calendar marketing and communications company ECAL is expanding, acquiring US-based company Rokt Calendar in a deal adding more than 25 tier-one brands to ECAL’s portfolio. As part of the deal, ECAL – which syncs users’ favourite live events, sporting fixtures, shows, ticketing and venue information directly to their calendars – will add an extra eight million users to the platform. The NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, Indycar, EuroLeague, Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, The Skimm and SiriusXM are just some of the household brands moving to ECAL’s suite following the acquisition. The acquisition expands ECAL’s reach, connecting it with 24 million users globally, eight million monthly active users, 15 billion data points per month and calendars translated in more than 35 languages.

Aura has been announced as a finalist in the Technology Platform category of the ACT iAwards to be held on June 12 2024 in Canberra with this year's theme being ‘Shaping Our Future’. The iAwards are Australia’s longest running and most prestigious tech innovation awards.

Turnstile has been appointed to value some of Riot Games key sponsorship assets. Esports assets are a powerful mix of audience reach and intellectual property value and Turnstile is built to unlock this sort of value proposition. Riot Games, #1 in the esports space, continues to shatter records for viewership across LoL Esports and Valorant Esports in 2024. With hundreds of thousands of engaged fans tuning in for the premier esports events, including the highly acclaimed League of Legends Championship (LEC) and VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA, the EMEA Riot team is ramping up efforts in partnership with Turnstile.

Basketball Australia and iAthletic announced the country’s largest basketball apparel deal that will fit out athletes across all of Australian basketball for the next three years. iAthletic are Australia’s number one supplier of basketball uniforms kitting out athletes with over 350 thousand items per year and servicing over 370 teams & clients. The company have produced game wear and merchandise for Basketball Australia’s high-performance teams since 2018 and specialise in designing for variable conditions and climates. 

LALIGA and SportBoost have launched MEET LALIGA EA SPORTS, the second edition of the innovation programme aimed at startups around the world. The programme aims to identify disruptive technological solutions that can break down barriers between the physical and the digital, as well as generate new experiences that strengthen engagement with current and future fans. Immersive training solutions for grassroots football that improve the physical and mental well-being of young talents are also encouraged. The call will be open until 19th August 2024. The winning startup will receive a financial contribution of €10,000 to boost its project.

Since 2019, PMY has been collaborating on the iHawk initiative, managing the data it generates and integrating it with existing match and player data for the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). PMY also handle the video feeds, allowing users to view footage from multiple perspectives, such as the umpire behind the stumps or the square leg umpire, with or without data overlays. This technology provides players, coaches, scouts, and umpires with comprehensive access to video and data, revolutionising the ECB's analytical capabilities.

Dribl, an Australian-based leading provider of football technology solutions, has announced its partnership with CONIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations. This strategic alliance marks a significant step forward for Dribl, helping CONIFA streamline operations for their global football competitions, promoting efficiency and providing a dynamic platform for community and fan engagement.

Sports data and visualisation company Lumin Sports has launched Lumin Strength, a strength and conditioning software. The platform for coaches and athletes includes free-form planning and periodisation, drag-and-drop programming, exercise prescription, an extensive exercise library and automatic reports. Lumin Sports is available as a standalone product or integrated with Lumin’s leading athlete management and team operations platform.

ThinkSport and Terre des hommes is organising a first full-day ideation session to kick off their 'Youth Sports Safety' Challenge that will take place on 12 September 2024 in Lausanne (Switzerland). Participants will include various participants from different sectors and backgrounds such as Safeguarding professionals, Child and Young Protection experts, Federations involved or willing to be more involved in the topic, young athletes, coaches, professionals of child participation, and researchers. The focus will be on brainstorming and developing innovative ideas to address the Challenge, leveraging the diversity of expertise within the group.

TrainingPeaks, the industry-leading training app for endurance coaches and athletes, today announced an exclusive partnership with AusCycling — the national sports organization responsible for the development, facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling and riding in Australia. Under the new agreement, TrainingPeaks is now the official training and coaching software for AusCycling and the ARA Australian Cycling Team.

The I3-INSHAPE is an EU project with the aim of strengthening the European digital economy by creating a network of Innovation and Investment Hubs in the field of sports and Healthy active lifestyle. The Project lasts for 36 months and seeks to support the creation of interregional innovation investments resulting in the commercialisation and scale up of innovative SME-led initiatives in the field of sports. Ultimately, this will contribute to a more active and healthier lifestyle for European citizens.