The Otago Daily Times ran a short piece in its World liftout last week in which various folk from around the world banged on about how the world would be in 35 years.
Mike Lee, the former director of communications for the London Olympics bid, opined; “Sport will have to respond to new technologies, the speed at which we process information and apparent reductions in attention span…(the) demands of television will grow, as will technology’s role in umpiring and consuming sport.  Electronics companies are already planning broadcasts using live holograms.”
While live holograms may be handy for provincial rugby franchises struggling to pay flesh and blood players, how much exactly can sport move from traditional brain and muscle to technology?
It’s an interesting concept, particularly given the bidding rights for future world events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup are being dominated by television networks increasingly looking to different media vehicles to deliver product.
Streaming online, mobile TV, and other applications are now de rigeur.  The way of the future, according to a study into the networks’ future revenue streams, will be interactivity. Fantasy teams and video games and replays are all part of the cross-media mix.
The holographic aspect (which is a few years away yet – maybe longer in Godzone as it requires a high speed stable internet connection – ha!) would allow games to be screened as holograms and allow interactivity with, say, commentators (God forbid it would allow me on my couch in NZ to ask Ryan Giggs to pass it to Wayne Rooney, but who knows?).
I was considering all this as I watched my nephew dismantle a handy AC Milan team singlehandedly on his Playstation or somesuch.
Do we really need more technology-based interactivity when the easiest way to get interactive with sports is to kick a ball around outside or go for a swim?
All the palaver about shorter attention spans and using new technology ignores the fact that sports are, in general, relatively simple games (made difficult by referees and the odd mad coach – oh, and drugs).
I had pre-season rugby training at the weekend.  The coach, a man who leaves no stone unturned, would use technology if it gave us a benefit.
But nothing beats catching, passing, running and general fitness.  We need to leave the technological focus to the TV networks, and let them present us with the best coverage.
What we don’t need is sport becoming dependent on technology, or technology taking the place of what really should be happening on the road, track, pool or field.
Now, anyone know where I can sign up a 12 year old electronic striker in a decent electronic football team?
It’s 10 years ago this week since I had to front a TV camera and give a One News eulogy for my old rugby teammate and work colleague Mike “The Hammer” Lorigan, tragically killed in a light plane crash in Canberra.
Mike was the most ungainly winger ever (even more ungainly than me) but had a notorious knack for scoring tries and being in the right place at the right time.  Old Boys-University has a memorial shield named in his honour for the most tries scored in a year by a social rugby player.  RIP Mike – gone but never forgotten.