Sports Organizations Set for Major AI Expansion
According to the comprehensive 2026 Global SportsTech Report, an overwhelming majority of sports organizations worldwide are planning to significantly increase their utilization of artificial intelligence within the next twelve months. The study, conducted collaboratively by SportsPro and Sportradar with input from numerous industry organizations, reveals that artificial intelligence has become a central focus for technological advancement across the sports sector.
Nearly Universal Adoption Plans
The report presents striking statistics: 98 per cent of sports organizations intend to expand their AI usage in the coming year, while 72 per cent identify artificial intelligence as the technology with the greatest potential for their operations over the next five years. This data emerges as AI's presence in sports has grown dramatically in recent seasons, transforming various aspects of athletic competition and business operations.
Steve McCaskill, the report's lead author, emphasized the transformative impact of technological integration: "Sport's embrace of scientific knowledge, data analytics and increasingly capable hardware and software have redefined the limits of athletic performance, reimagined the fan experience and unlocked new efficiencies and revenue streams that have accelerated growth off the field of play."
Practical Applications and Industry Support
Real-world applications of AI in sports are already evident. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan utilized artificial intelligence systems to assist judges during figure skating competitions, while numerous organizations employ AI technologies for scouting purposes and to enhance athlete performance analysis. The report also indicates that approximately two-thirds of respondents believe more sports-specific technologies are necessary to achieve their organizational goals.
Behshad Behzadi of Sportradar commented on the findings: "This report underscores our commitment to not only leading that charge through advanced, AI-powered products and solutions but also providing the strategic insights that help the entire sports ecosystem navigate a more digital, data-driven future."
Content Creation and Revenue Opportunities
The Global SportsTech Report reveals additional significant trends in how organizations plan to implement artificial intelligence. 73 per cent of organizations planning AI expansion intend to focus on content creation and distribution, indicating a major shift in how sports content will be produced and delivered to audiences.
Furthermore, the report identifies betting and gaming as particularly promising revenue streams, with 31 per cent of organizations viewing this category as offering the greatest direct-to-customer revenue opportunity—higher than any other category examined. This suggests that AI implementation will have substantial financial implications beyond performance enhancement.
The report incorporates contributions from numerous prominent sports entities, including the International Olympic Committee, Major League Soccer, the National Hockey League, Formula One, Uefa, and technology giant Google, demonstrating widespread industry engagement with artificial intelligence technologies.
