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Inform. Inspire. Celebrate. | |
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It’s July. It’s Wimbledon. It’s hot. | |
And not just the weather.
NBA Free Agency is underway and already delivering fireworks, while over in WWE, talk of SummerSlam has been overshadowed by a growing injury list.
Another issue heating up - in all the wrong ways - is the UCI’s new(ish) handlebar rules and female cyclists are calling foul. The issue is about the minimum width of the bars and a lot of people feel that this is a case of a governing body, once again, treating women as ‘small men’. We’ll dig into that properly in next week’s leader.
Meanwhile, another frustrated female athlete is Faith Kipyegon. Nike set her up to break a world record - unofficially, due to the use of male pacemakers and non-standard kit - but the attempt fell short. What’s striking is the reaction: barely a whisper of debate about the line between ‘marginal gains’ and ‘tech doping’. The wider view emerging seems to be ‘if the tech exists, why not use it?’
Conversely, when it comes to heat - and the very real risks it poses - that open-mindedness disappears. Despite access to wearables, cooling tech and heat-mapping tools, athletes across the northern hemisphere are still being asked to perform in brutal, sometimes dangerous, conditions.
We have the innovation. So why aren’t we using it to protect performance, not just push it?
That’s the focus of this week’s leader. As always, the newsletter is built to spark a conversation. Hit the Your Turn button - we’d love to hear what you make of it. | |
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Leader: Hot. Bothered. Still Competing.
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With UK temperatures reaching for 37°C this week - hotter than parts of the Sahara - it's a good time to ask why we’re still sending elite athletes out in conditions that would see most office workers dialling into Teams from the shade.
Back in 2018, Novak Djokovic called out the madness after slogging through an Australian Open match where the court hit 69°C. Seven years on, the tech to monitor and manage heat stress has exploded - but the policies? Not so much.
This week’s op-ed looks at the gap between what we can measure and what we choose to act on - and why elite sport needs to treat heat as a managed performance risk, not just a sweaty inconvenience.
Go Deeper | |
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Listen Up - NZ Stadium Makes Sound Investment | |
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A New Zealand stadium has become one of the first venues to trial Auri, a wearable assistive-listening device, that delivers live audio directly to hearing-impaired fans. The tech syncs with broadcast feeds to personalise volume and clarity around the venue.
Go Deeper | |
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Genius Sports Index-ing a Win | |
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Genius Sports (GENI), the data-and-tech partner to 700+ leagues including the NFL and Premier League, has been added to the Russell 2000 Growth Index - a key benchmark for high-growth small-cap companies. The inclusion means automatic visibility with institutional investors and index-tracking funds.
Go Deeper | |
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Lottery.com, best known for its online lottery services, is shifting deeper into sport. It’s acquired a 51% stake in the digital assets of GXR World, a Canadian firm that develops platforms for interactive sports and gaming experiences. GXR’s tech powers features like live match streaming, real-time fan chat, integrated e-commerce, and mini-games - all designed to keep users engaged on one app. With over a million active users, it forms the backbone of Lottery.com's next big play: relaunching Sports.com as a global “Super App” for fans.
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54% of Sports Fans Say ‘AI’ | |
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Capgemini’s July 1 report reveals the majority of global sports fans (54%) use AI or generative AI as their main source for match content, stats and highlights. Fans want personalised feeds and interactive "what if" replays. Conversely 60% worry tech might dull live sport’s thrill…
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Ireland Medals with Super Spikes + Biomechanics? | |
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Researchers at University of Limerick’s Lero centre are testing Danu’s smart socks alongside “super spike” sprint shoes from Nike and Adidas. The goal: measure motion, stride and power output in real-world conditions ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Go Deeper | |
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Tub Triumph in Athletic Recovery | |
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A University of Oregon study found hot tubs boost core temperature more effectively than dry or infrared saunas, thereby improving cardiovascular, immune, and muscular recovery. Warm water immersion also aids inflammation response and muscle repair.
Go Deeper | |
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ZOWIE Wows Gamers with Sports Science
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ZOWIE, the esports arm of BenQ and supplier to 70% of pro FPS players, has launched its first Sports Science Lab in Eindhoven. Using EMG sensors and motion capture, it’s analysing ergonomics and fatigue to improve gear and gameplay.
Go Deeper | |
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Reddit’s Targets…The World! | |
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A year after its U.S. push, Reddit is expanding its sports partnership program internationally. With 1,000+ sports subreddits and 249M monthly engagements, it’s now a key platform for fan community and brand activation.
Go Deeper
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Before you go, don’t forget to use the button to share your thoughts or news. We’re always keen to hear from you! | |
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