Sports have been a constant that exists in every culture across the planet. They serve as ways to show off the physical and mental prowess of the members of our society and as a healthy way to entertain the players and audiences. As society has advanced, technology has been integrated into many sports and has even created new sports centered around new inventions. However, in certain sports, technology has advanced to the point where it now risks diminishing or even eliminating the human elements from sports.
Technology has always been evolving. Ever since the first human made the first tool, we have constantly sought to improve the tools at our disposal to improve our chances of survival and improve our quality of life. This technological innovation has persisted all the way up to the modern era, and it is wonderful to see just how quickly new technology is being developed.
Technology has certainly enhanced sports, with replay functions allowing referees to rewatch plays and make more informed calls that determine the fate of games. Live broadcasting allows fans across the world to tune in live to watch their favorite teams regardless of distance. Technology has been a significant boon for the integrity of sports and for increasing its accessibility.
However, technology such as data analytics and real-time analysis has coaches looking at their players more like pawns on a board rather than humans playing a sport. The human touch of older sports has been gradually eroded in favor of technological efficiency, all to increase the team’s chances of winning.
Fans always want to see their favorite teams win, but personally, I don’t think it should come at the cost of making the games played feel formulaic and robotic. Sports are at their most interesting when star or underdog players have their time to shine and break the expectations of fans.
