Thursday, February 19, 2026 2:00 p.m.
| Update date:
Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:16am
According to the 2026 Global SportsTech Report, nearly 100% of sports organizations plan to increase their use of AI next year.
This data comes as the presence of artificial intelligence in the sports world has increased dramatically in recent seasons.
The survey, conducted by SportsPro and Sportradar with sports organizations across industries, states that “98% of organizations plan to increase their use of AI in the next 12 months, and 72% believe AI is the technology with the greatest potential for their organization over the next five years.”
At the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, AI was used to assist figure skating referees, and many companies are using AI to assist with scouting and athlete performance.
About two-thirds of respondents said they “need more sport-specific technology to achieve their goals.”
The use of AI is rapidly increasing
“The sports world’s embrace of scientific knowledge, data analytics, and increasingly sophisticated hardware and software is redefining the boundaries of athletic performance, redefining the fan experience, unlocking new efficiencies and revenue streams, and accelerating off-the-field growth,” said Steve McCaskill, lead author of the report.
The Global SportsTech Report credits leagues, teams and brands including the International Olympic Committee, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, F1, UEFA and Google as contributors to the report.
Elsewhere in the report, it was revealed that “73% of organizations planning to expand their use of AI also intend to do so in content creation and distribution,” while “31% view betting and gaming as direct-to-consumer.” [direct to customer] It is the source of revenue that offers the greatest opportunity, higher than any other category. ”
“This report highlights our commitment to not only lead the charge through advanced AI-powered products and solutions, but also to provide strategic insights that help the entire sports ecosystem navigate a more digital and data-driven future,” said Behshad Behzadi of sports technology company Sportradar.
