Sport England has helped create the Sports Technology Awards Design Challenge, which aims to get more young people, women or disabled athletes involved in sport, and the ceremony on 27 March will celebrate the increasingly important role that technology plays in sport.
Entries have been received globally, spanning innovative start-ups and household brands, including the work of individuals in sport such as Sir Clive Woodward’s ‘Captured’ platform and Judy Murray’s tennis coaching app, ‘Miss-Hits’.
Rebecca Hopkins, Director of the Sports Technology Awards, said: "The concepts, products and services entered into the awards are as exciting as they are diverse. This is a sector that is evolving constantly, challenging what is normal and what is possible. The power of sports technology as a force for change isn’t just the preserve of established sportsmen and women, these innovations encourage all sorts of people to do more in sport, not least of all to start doing more physically – which is especially pertinent given the recent news about the importance of activity."
The judging panel, consisting of industry figures including David Dein, Marlon Devonish and Nigel Owens, faced a considerable assignment. Bill Sweeney, Head of the British Olympic Association and STA judge, explained: "The task of assessing the awards was not insignificant, partly because the entries were so diverse but also because the technology being judged is often the very latest. We all wanted to do all the brands entering justice in order to ensure that the right winner emerges from the process. The ceremony in March certainly promises to be an exciting one."
Alongside Sport England, this year’s awards sees an influx of sponsors including mobile provider, Sport Mobile, leading social content marketing platform, Stackla design and branding agency, Tactical-Live, as well as existing sponsor, The Daily Telegraph.
For the full list of finalists or to enquire about attendance or sponsorship, visit: www.sportstechnologyawards.com.