Is technology ruining sport?

科技正在毁坏体育吗?

The Inquiry

2026-06-23

23 分钟
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This year, technology has more influence in officiating sports than ever before. At the men's World Cup, the role of virtual assistant referee technology (VAR) has been extended to include two more on-pitch scenarios while in tennis, umpires use electric line calling systems (ELC) to make final decisions. Both bits of kit aim to improve the accuracy. It’s become easier to consider match-defining moments through these tracking and review systems’ specialised cameras. But, this information takes human officials valuable time to analyse. Football fans criticise VAR for this reason, saying it delays match momentum. Top ranking tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev have also complained as these systems are not yet infallible. If technology is as imperfect as a human referee or umpire and can interrupt the fan experience too, why do elite sports rely on it? This week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘Is technology ruining sport?’ Contributors Carlo de Marchis, independent advisor in sports and media technology in Italy Dr Otto Koblinger, former sports scientist, Munich Technical University, Germany and senior data manager, Saudi Pro League Professor Odilon Roble, sport philosopher and psychoanalyst, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil Matt Moore, associate dean, University of Kentucky’s college of social work, US Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: VAR check. Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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  • Welcome to the enquiry from the BBC World Service with me, Tonya Beckett.

  • One question, four expert witnesses and an answer.

  • June and July see the start of two major events in the sporting calendar.

  • For tennis fans it's Wimbledon and for football enthusiasts the Men's World Cup.

  • Both sports have in recent years undergone fundamental transformations with the help of technology.

  • This year, the International Football Association Board, the regulatory body that shapes the laws of the game,

  • expanded the reach of Video Assistance Referee or VAR Technology in the World Cup.

  • And even the ball itself has been subject to a technological upgrade.

  • FIFA's new ball being used in this tournament is called the Trionda.

  • It has a sensor to paint a clearer picture of its trajectory.

  • And they've also been big technological developments in tennis.

  • Last year Wimbledon's Grand Slam tournament ended a 147-year tradition