Sports and information technology creatively evolve alongside one another. Major events like the Summer and Winter Olympic games as well as the FIFA World Cup 2010 taking place next Summer in South Africa permanently impact how information is delivered via traditional, interactive and mobile media platforms.
From radio coverage and still photography, through television, satellite and today’s iPhone apps, how we perceive major sporting events had a direct correlation to the games we are watching themselves.
Ultimately, it comes down to a media outlet’s ability to generate capital. While television rights in North America and worldwide generate billions of dollars for FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, the cost to produce and showcase those sporting events also increase at an accelerated rate. Accordingly, when new communication platforms like iPhone apps develop, it does not take too much time before sponsors respond to their marketing potential.
While the FIFA World Cup 2010 will just be scratching the surface in terms of how major brands will showcase their wares through iPhone apps, early entries like the Nike Football+ presents: Major Control iPhone application give us an idea of future possibilities.
By the time the 2012 Summer Olympics take place in the U.K, today’s more than 100,000 applications will morph to more than one million. Everyone interested in the games will have one or a series of apps they can download to watch from any location on their own time.
