Disrupting sport: Winners and losers in the era of technology
The daily sports practice, the local clubs and teams, the facilities, the events, the leagues and tournaments, the peak performance: The digital and technological revolution is changing all aspects of sport and physical activity as you read these lines.
As the newest player on the international sports scene, esports not only distinguishes itself by playing its matches on the virtual field. Lecturer and sports philosopher Ivo van Hilvoorde will provide delegates with an overview of the cultural and ethical differences between traditional sports and esports in a presentation aimed at defining a research agenda for esports. The International eSports Federation is advocating the inclusion of esports in the IOC, and Alex Lim, the federation’s secretary general, will lay forward the arguments and motives behind the wish to be part of the Olympic sportsmovement. Integrity issues are no stranger to esports either and to be abreast of ethical discussions, the eSports Integrity Coalition wants to be the ‘guardian of the integrity of esport’ and the coalition’s integrity commissioner Ian Smith will speak about the most pressing threats and how to address them. As a lawyer working with focus on esports players’ rights, Anna Baumann will add to the discussion by giving an overview of the legal challenges the emergence of esports can entail.Meet Eindhoven’s innovative centres Technology in sport is not only something that takes place in virtual worlds on screen. Technology has become an integral part of how we do sports and how we use our surroundings when we do sport. At Play the Game 2017, we will look into how technology can facilitate a wide range of activities in and around sport – and Eindhoven is the perfect place to do so.After years of targeted planning, Eindhoven and the region of Noord Brabant has become a vibrant centre for inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs in sport. Through conference sessions and tours of the city’s innovative centres, built on high-tech, design and knowledge-sharing – such as the SX Building in the Strijp-S area – delegates will meet some of the most interesting and successful entrepreneurs with a potential to change the sporting landscape for good.Knowledge CaféOn Tuesday night, the Knowledge Center for Sports Netherlands invites Play the Game delegates to join their Knowledge Café. This salon-style format will be chaired by Declan Hill who will steer the audience through a couple of hours of entertaining debates, musical performances and presentations giving possible answers to the question: “Who owns the future: The battle over new trends in sport?” The Knowledge Café will take place in the field hockey clubhouse across the street from the conference hotel.A Dutch version of the Knowledge Café will take place on Wednesday afternoon.
