Introduction

In the world of sports, technology is becoming more and more of a critical factor, for both the advancement of the player and for the enjoyment of the fan. One trend is clearhaving real-time data equates to a competitive edge. Data is being collected and exploited by Inescapable Data devices in real time across a wide variety of sports, and is being used in creative ways. Combinations of communication and computer technologies come to gether, giving participants new levels of competitiveness, and bringing spectators closer to the event. Inescapable Data is infiltrating a variety of sports events from the highly "mechanized" ones such as racing, to individual sports such as swimming, through to team sports. A new breed of sporting events is emerging that mix the real with the virtual, propelling sports head long into a new world of games that often reward mental agility over physical prowess.