Sports play a significant role in our daily lives, bringing people together and providing entertainment and excitement. The global sports industry has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past few years, with increased participation, sponsorship deals, and technological innovations. Football (soccer) remains the most popular sport worldwide, with an estimated 3.5 billion fans across the globe. The UEFA Champions League and English Premier League continue to dominate the sport’s global market, attracting billions in revenue and sponsorship deals.
Recently, the sport has seen increased investment in women’s football, with several countries and organizations stepping up to support women’s leagues. The Olympics is undoubtedly the biggest global sports event, bringing together athletes from all over the world under one roof for a two-week extravaganza. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have just concluded, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the event showcased some outstanding performances from athletes across the world.
The next Winter Olympics is set to take place in Beijing in 2022, which has already garnered attention because of its controversies around human rights and geopolitical tensions. Basketball is also enjoying a global surge, with the NBA setting up programs around the world to develop the sport and cultivate new markets. The league is also exploring opportunities in tech to enhance the fan experience, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
The esports industry is also on the rise, with an estimated 500 million viewers and around $1 billion in revenue. Esports tournaments bring together players from around the world to compete in video games such as League Times of Spanish Legends, Dota 2, and Fortnite.