The digital revolution is reshaping sport in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a decade ago. From wearable technology tracking every heartbeat, to AI analysing performance metrics, to new platforms transforming how fans engage with their favourite teams – the future of sport is being written in code.
Dr. Kieron Collins of Technological University Dublin stands at this exciting intersection of tradition and innovation. As leader of the postgraduate diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation, he’s helping to position Ireland as a global hub for sports technology while developing the talent that will drive this revolution forward.
“Sport is this broad ecosystem of sport, health, community, social,” explains Collins. “We look at the kids, how they consume sport. They don’t attend events the same way that their parents have done. They consume it very differently – through TikTok, short video clips, and creating sharing communities on Reddit or other platforms.”
The program, supported by Digital Skillnet and SportsTech Ireland, attracts a fascinating mix of participants: sports tech entrepreneurs, C-suite executives seeking strategic advantage, coaches looking to leverage data, and former athletes transitioning to the business side. What unites them is a passion for sport and a desire to understand how technology can enhance it rather than replace its fundamental human elements.
Collins takes a refreshingly practical approach to innovation, focusing on what he calls “McGyvering solutions” – finding creative ways to solve real-world problems by bringing together siloed information, creating more efficient processes, and ensuring technology serves human needs rather than the other way around. When discussing artificial intelligence, he emphasises that success isn’t about the latest models but about the “last mile” of implementation within organizations.
For those concerned that technology might be “wrecking” the purity of sport, Collins offers a reassuring perspective: “It’s just a tool. It’s how you utilise it. It can stay in your toolbox, you may never use it, but it requires a skill set to use it.” Technology doesn’t replace the joy of movement or the expertise of experienced coaches – it provides additional information to make better decisions.
Want to be part of this transformation? Applications are now open for the September intake. Search “sport analytics technology and innovation” to find the TU Dublin website and application details.
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
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SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
This is a great course, perhaps an essential one and well worth investigating.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Postgraduate Diploma course starts in September
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