*Modern technology in sport and its impacts... GapFill

Fair outcomes describes an unbiased approach to making a decision. Although the aim of technology in sport is to have a positive influence on fair outcomes, it cannot be denied that controversies arising as a result of technology have had a negative effect.

Positive impacts of technology on fair outcomes:

•  Distance measurementsLive action replaysTiming devicesHeart rate devices - These are used to improve the  punditryapproximationaccuracycost of sports where success is dictated by the time taken to complete a certain task, such as running, cycling and swimming events. This has allowed for the historical recording of results, with events being timed to a 100th of a second. It is particularly important in races where more than one participant crosses the finish line in quick succession, allowing officials to determine who crossed first. 
•  PerformanceDecisionsAgilityAccountability of officials - Technology has also allowed officials an opportunity to reassess a decision, such as the use of a   videovenuevicinityvirtual assistant referee (VAR) in football where referees can confirm or overturn their initial decision by reviewing a particular incident that has potential to be controversial.
• Accuracy of decision making -   JavaCourt-line technologyLive action replayHawk-Eye is a software that is used in tennis which allows the umpire to see a slow-motion replay of whether the ball is in or out when challenged by a player. Goal-line technology is another, which is used in football, giving the referee an automatic notification on their smart watch if the ball crosses the line.
• Detecting foul play - The scramble of players in rugby union makes it difficult for referees to see everything going on that might be off the ball. The use of the big screen to view replays of an incident through the  tacticaltransporttailoredtelevision match official (TMO) allows the referee to detect any foul play they might have missed, issuing retrospective action such as sin binning or sending off the guilty player.
• Detecting  safetyviolenceequipmentdoping - Technology has helped sporting bodies develop a  physiological assessmentphysiological passportphysiological assaybiological passport for athletes, which is an electronic record of drug test results, allowing for variations to be detected in an individual's naturally occurring hormone levels.

Limitations of technology on fair outcomes:

• Access - The latest technology is somewhat restricted to sports teams and athletes that have a strong  financialperformersupporterfriendship backing. For example, Hawk-Eye, available in cricket and badminton, might not be as readily available in squash, possibly due to differences in funding.
• Developments in new illegal drugs - The demand to evade positive drug testing results exceeds the development in detection technology. Producers of performance-enhancing drugs use modern technology themselves and are always looking for new drugs that can go undetected on the latest testing devices. This means that many athletes could, unbeknownst to authorities, be abusing performance-enhancing drugs to gain an unfair advantage over their clean competitors.
• Increased accountability of officials - The opportunity to use technology in order to overturn initial decisions in many sports could, on one hand,   reduceforbidempowerimprove the referee to make the correct decision, but on the other, could increase the pressure on them. The increased media coverage of sport also increases public exposure to referees, adding further pressure on their decisions as they are open to scrutiny.

Elite-level sport provides a source of great entertainment, which is why massive TV companies pay extremely high prices to gain the rights to show the matches. This increases the demand on technology to provide this entertainment. 

Improvements to entertainment due to technology:

•  Global positioning systemsDistant measurementsAction replaysMultiple camera angles – These allow spectators to review major incidents in a match immediately after they occur.
•  Multiple camera anglesTechnological advancementsHeart rate devicesAction replays – These allow a greater appreciation of the technique used during sporting actions from a range of points of view.
•  Slow-motion technologyPunditryPerformance technologyStatistical analysis – This enables a detailed breakdown of sporting actions that are often missed in real time.
• Improved analysis – Technology is used in post-match analyses for an in-depth review of a team or individual performance. BT Sport adopted a feature in a select few football matches which allowed subscribers to view real time stats such as the distances and speeds covered by each player.
•  PunditryParkingPenaltyPerform – Spectators often enjoy hearing the opinions of knowledgeable sports personnel who are, or previously were, involved in the sport they are working in.                                       

Negative effect of technology on entertainment:

• Interruption ­– Action replays often occur when play has stopped, but there are some instances when  replaysperformancesfightsdecisions occur while play has resumed, preventing the viewer from temporarily seeing live action. 
• Reduced live attendances – As coverage of live games has improved, many spectators prefer to view the matches on television, saving both time and money by attending in person.