Technology Innovation and Guardrails in Elite Sport: The Future is Now

Area of Science:

• Sport and exercise science
• Biomedical engineering
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Increasing development and application of wearable sensor technologies across sporting, biomedical, and media industries.
• Real-time human data monitoring, analysis, and transmission capabilities are advancing rapidly.
• Need for robust scientific evidence and ethical frameworks to guide wearable technology integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the implementation of wearable technologies at major sporting events: Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 adidas Road to Records.
• To explore the use of real-time wearable data for athlete health protection in extreme environments.
• To assess the potential of wearable metrics for future applications in sports and medicine.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive review of wearable technology trials during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 adidas Road to Records.
• Analysis of academic and industry partnerships in implementing real-time wearable solutions.
• Identification of challenges and concerns associated with wearable sensor data.

Main Results:

• Wearable technologies were trialled in high-profile events to monitor athletes in hot and humid conditions.
• Key concerns identified include limited evidence of benefit, data quality issues, information overload, data security, and marketing claims.
• Existing employment and sporting regulations need adaptation to accommodate wearable device usage.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need to address ethical and data protection concerns surrounding wearable technologies.
• Development of wearable solutions must be supported by rigorous scientific validation.
• Sport and exercise science, alongside medicine, are crucial for understanding the impact of wearables on performance, health, and wellness.