While the introduction of new technology in sports can increase the fairness and accuracy of the game, it also runs the risk of hindering mass accessibility. High-tech equipment like full-body swimsuits and hawkeyes widen the gap between mainstream and fringe cultures, threatening its popularity and shared nature. As a result, sports are cautious about technological advancements and continue to struggle to balance fairness and accessibility.
The dilemma of full-body swimsuits and technology adoption
While technological advancements in sports are seen as a tool to improve performance and ensure accuracy, there is a risk that they can become over-reliant and overshadow individual athletes’ skills, fitness, and tactical abilities. For example, this was the case with full-body swimsuits in swimming, which reduced athletes’ body resistance and allowed them to improve their times, but also dramatically widened the gap between them and athletes who didn’t use them. This led to criticism that the intrinsic value of the sport was being compromised by technological equipment. This led to the decision by swimming federations to restrict the use of full-body swimsuits, which can be seen as an attempt to find a balance between technological advances and traditional ways of competing.
Resistance to technology adoption and shared cultural identity
Resistance to technology adoption doesn’t just stem from the fear of change that comes with new devices replacing old ways of doing things. Technology is often seen as a threat to public access to the sport. In a world where not everyone has access to expensive full-body swimsuits or high-tech equipment, a game that relies on these devices conflicts with the nature of sport as a “shared culture. When elements are introduced that make sport less accessible to the masses, it is in danger of being reduced to something that only a select few can enjoy.
These two elements, “universality” and “accessibility,” are essential for a sport to maintain its character as a shared culture. This is why soccer has been so slow to adopt the hawkeye compared to tennis. As one of the most popular sports in the world, soccer needs to be low-cost and accessible, and introducing high-tech equipment like the hawkeye would increase the cost of the game and the equipment, which would make it less accessible to the masses. In contrast, in fencing and tennis, where there is a relatively small shared audience, technology was introduced earlier and new systems were adopted by a relatively limited circle.
Reconciling sustainable development and mass accessibility of sports
The solution is not to exclude or oppose the introduction of technology; it can be an important tool to ensure the fairness of matches, reduce controversial calls, and provide a more sophisticated sports experience for audiences. For example, in soccer, the introduction of video assistant referees (VARs) has enhanced the fairness of the game. However, it is essential to harmonize these technologies so that they are accessible to all segments of the population without overwhelming the public.
In this process, support at the societal and policy level is critical. For example, programs to introduce technical sports equipment or advanced devices into public schools and local sports facilities can provide people of all ages and walks of life with the opportunity to easily experience and understand advanced sports technology. These measures are not just socially beneficial, but ultimately necessary for the long-term development of sports.
Therefore, it’s important to think about how technology can be adopted not just as a tool to enhance the game, but as a way to maintain accessibility and fairness at the same time. This will help sports become a shared culture in its own right and allow more people to experience its true value.
