This is How Apple Are Changing Sports Forever...

Welcome back to The Sports Road! We hope you’re all having a good week, and if not, hopefully we can make it that little bit better. Today, we will be talking about how technology is being used to change sport forever, and how it may actually benefit you…

Here's what we got for ya today:

• Apple did WHAT?!

• Boxing’s New AI…

• A Step in The Right Direction

• PRIME: Big News…

Most Valuable Sports Teams

Let's get into it!

Apple Vision Pro: Sport is About to change FOREVER

Look, it would be silly not to talk about this…

If you somehow missed Apple’s newest announcement, buckle up. This may have some BIG ramifications…

Officially announcing the ‘Apple Vision Pro’ this week, the tech giants have made their first move into the wonderful world of VR.

And, to be honest, this is pretty crazy. Just have a look for yourselves:

So with all that, you may be thinking the same thing that we did… Where does sport fit in all this madness?

Well, it could get pretty crazy.

The idea of VR being used as a means to broadcast live sport isn’t really anything new. From Cosm’s deal with the UFC, to Meta’s multiple deals with NBA, it is possible.

I mean, giving fans the opportunity to feel immersed into a game as if they were there live literally from the comfort of their own living room, what’s not to like?!

When pairing that with the recent statistic that nearly 70% of sports fans would prefer to watch games outside of stadiums, it would not be a surprise if Apple chose to go down a similar route.

In looking at the company’s reach and just how many people could end up consuming games from such a perspective, the whole landscape of sport could change significantly.

With Apple seemingly taking an interest in developing their sport related offerings recently, deals have already been struck with Real Madrid, the MLS, and more.

In fact, in a video release earlier this week, Disney has already shown some mind blowing changes that could be made. From seeing different camera angles, to being able to use real-time data to analyse games, things could get very interesting.

This is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Boxing’s Newest AI

Top Rank – the home to Boxing’s best. I mean, just listen to some of these names…

Naoya Inoue, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Lomachenko, Tyson Fury. By the way, when’s his next fight again? 🤦‍♂️ Sorry. Couldn’t help it…

But, that’s aside from the point. Essentially, the list goes on. And why? Well, aside from being some of the greatest fighters ever, they create highlights.

In a sport where everything can change in a split second, the need to capture every moment is integral.

Whether it’s a punch, slip, or whatever it may be, as fans, for many of us, those are the moments which make us jump from our seats.

Being the case, Top Rank are trying to capture them in all their glory.

How, you ask? With the help of AI, of course.

Striking a deal with WSC Sports, specialists in AI powered sports video content, the promotion is trying to distribute boxing highlights like you’ve never seen before.

Using their advanced AI, WSC will be able to produce real-time content, bringing fans closer than ever to the action.

Aiming to bring Boxing back to its best, the partnership will offer Top Rank the ability to share these highlights across multiple forms of social media.

Creating deeper forms of engagement with fans on a global-scale, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Using Technology For Good

Let’s not beat around the bush. If you’ve played sports, you would know that injuries suck. Whether it be something small or something more severe, the prospect of not being allowed to play is NOT a nice feeling.

With some being less detectable than others, the understanding of injury severity is crucial; especially when talking about sport at grassroots and youth levels.

One of these difficult to diagnose injuries are concussions and its impacts have been troubling those in the industry for years.

As a result, recently we’ve seen harsher measures implemented at both professional and grass roots levels. From the FA banning deliberate headers at under-12 level, to clubs being given a free ‘concussion substitution’, it’s a topic that troubles players and staff alike in multiple sports at multiple levels.

Using this technology, though, we may be just that step closer to figuring it out…

Yep, SportSmart, a digital injury management platform set up by former McLaren team owner Ron Denis, is set to be trialled for two years in the UK government’s tracking of concussion related injuries.

Being free, the app already nearly has 170,000 users and can potentially provide insight unlike ever before into concussions.

With only 2% of schools in the UK having systems for recording and managing concussions, this could be a BIG step in the right direction.

We Need to Talk About: PRIME

Whether you like it or not, sport is changing.

Becoming more and more driven by commercial means, the presence of social media and technology has led to some major changes in the way we consume sport.

Giving people an outlet for which to express themselves, fans and athletes alike both have the opportunity to be heard on global scales. In looking at a sport like MMA, this could be more important than ever…

Ever feel that sense of intense nervousness before one of your favourite fighters goes to fight? Well, it makes sense. Being one of the only sports in which athletes – for the most part – are alone in competition, there’s a huge emphasis on the individual. And for that reason, being recognised holds immense value.

So, with that – Enter PRIME…

Yep, if you haven’t heard of PRIME, essentially it’s the brainchild of Logan Paul and KSI – some of the world’s biggest social media influencers.

Joining forces to create – what they believe – is the world’s best sports hydration drink, the two have already struck deals in Motorsports, with Arsenal, and the UFC.

Pretty good for a couple of youtubers… 😂

You may be wondering, what now?

Well, earlier this week, the company announced their first sponsored athletes – Alex Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya.

Yep, two of the UFC’s best fighters are now sponsored by KSI and Logan Paul…

SOMEONE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

Quick Bites

• Snooker: Not a good look…

• A HUGE Game! Conference League Preview

• Transfers: The window is going WILD!

Meme of the day

Quote of the day

Photo of the day

Ready to rep your favourite newsletter? Refer your friends and colleagues to the Sports Road and you could win big

It’s easy to spread the word. Copy and paste your unique link below and share it in an email or on your timeline

Ps - please respond to this email to help us beat the dreaded spam filters!

Chat to ya on Friday! ☮️