World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)’s Post

It's the 2nd Friday of the #Olympics2024! 🏅As we celebrate the medals won by our athletic heroes, Hong Kong people are also showing concern for their health. When Cheung Ka Long won another Olympic gold medal and stuck out his tongue, searches for "脷苔" (tongue coating👅) trended on Google. Fans analyzed his tongue condition to understand his health state during the high-pressure competition. This routine #socialmonitoring reveals the profound connection we draw between sports and a healthy #lifestyle, underscoring our belief that athletic excellence and well-being are fundamentally intertwined. Discover how to transform #sociallistening into valuable insights for your product and sales teams. Schedule your free consultation now: www.dchbi.com/contact-us #DCHBI #dataanalytics #digitaltransformation

Staying on top of new trends, breaking news, and social virality is crucial for businesses and executives. However, many still rely primarily on their personal experience and social media usage to discover this information - which is often limited by time constraints. How much time an executive can allocate to social media? The good news is that by leveraging data and AI-powered tools, businesses can uncover emerging trends, breaking news, and viral content much more quickly, scientifically and comprehensively than traditional methods alone. Some key benefits of using data and AI for social monitoring include: - Broader coverage: AI-powered monitoring can scan a much wider range of social media, news, and online sources to identify insights you may have missed. - Faster detection: Automated monitoring can surface new trends and viral content in real-time, allowing you to act quickly. - Deeper analysis: Data and AI can provide richer analysis of why certain content is resonating, revealing underlying patterns and themes. - Personalization: Monitoring can be customized to your specific industry, competitors, and areas of interest for the most relevant insights. The speed and breadth of information available today means that businesses can no longer afford to rely solely on manual and subjective methods for social and market monitoring. Leveraging data and AI is the key to staying ahead of the curve and making more informed, timely decisions.

Winning at All Costs: The Dangerous Reality of the Enhanced Olympics By Craig Joyce, PhD, DipIOPN & Helena Brueckner With the 2024 Olympics coming to a close and the excitement building for the upcoming Paralympics, it’s time to reflect on the incredible achievements we've witnessed and extend our congratulations to all the athletes who gave their all. As we celebrate these moments of triumph, it's also important to look ahead and consider what’s being planned for 2025—and not all of it is as inspiring as the games we've just seen. One particularly concerning development is the proposal of the "Enhanced Olympics," an event that promotes the use of performance-enhancing drugs under the guise of safety. While the idea may seem like a bold new frontier in sport, it poses significant risks to both the health of athletes and the integrity of competition. As with every modern Olympics, discussions about doping in various sports have been a significant focus. Debates around athletes’ eligibility and the effectiveness of anti-doping strategies highlight the ongoing challenges and ethical dilemmas posed by performance-enhancing drug use. These discussions are vital for raising awareness about the dangers and long-term consequences of such substances. With this in mind, it's crucial to discuss the "Enhanced Games" and the questionable path it promotes. Encouraging the use of PEDs in the name of safety is not just misguided—it’s dangerous. Advocates may assert that drug testing is primarily concerned with fairness rather than safety, but this perspective overlooks the severe long-term health implications of PED use. Along with the substantial ethical quandary involved in promoting such an event, which essentially glorifies and normalises PED use, the premise of the Enhanced Games conveys a dangerous message to athletes and young individuals, potentially undermining the integrity of sports and devalues the principles of perseverance and fair play that should be fundamental to athletic competition. As we delve deeper into this issue, we’ll be breaking down the risks of PEDs and exploring the hidden costs of chasing victory at any price. Stay tuned for more insights in the posts to come—because true triumph should never come at the expense of health!

To increase global participation in sports and tackle physical inactivity for the International Federation, here are some suggestions: 1. **Promote Awareness:** Increase awareness about the importance of physical activity and the benefits of sports participation through social media campaigns, outreach programs, and partnerships with other organizations. 2. **Engage Youth:** Create programs and initiatives targeted towards youth to encourage them to be physically active and participate in sports. This could include school-based programs, youth clubs, and sports camps. 3. **Accessible Facilities:** Ensure that there are accessible and safe sports facilities in communities around the world. This could involve working with local governments and organizations to improve existing facilities or build new ones. 4. **Training and Education:** Provide training and education opportunities for coaches, officials, and volunteers to promote inclusivity and diversity in sports. This can help create a welcoming environment for all individuals to participate in sports. 5. **Inclusive Programs:** Develop inclusive sports programs that cater to a diverse range of abilities and interests. This could include adaptive sports for individuals with disabilities, women's sports initiatives, and programs for older adults. 6. **Community Partnerships:** Partner with local community organizations, schools, businesses, and governments to create opportunities for people to engage in sports and physical activity. This could involve organized events, leagues, and recreational programs. 7. **Celebrating Diversity:** Celebrate diversity and promote cultural exchange through sports. Encourage participation from different ethnicities, backgrounds, and regions to foster a sense of unity and understanding through sports. By implementing these strategies, the International Federation can work towards increasing global participation in sports and combating physical inactivity on a worldwide scale.

The ⏰ clock is ticking, 2 more days till the Paris Olympics 2024 kicks off. CARMA is releasing our Weekly Briefing on Media Coverage and Brand Impact for the Paris Olympics 2024. The #ParisOlympics2024 is not just a showcase of athletic prowess but also a battleground for brand recognition and technological innovation. Our latest report provides a comprehensive round-up of earned online media coverage from July 10 to Aug 16, highlighting key reputational drivers and risks associated with top sponsors. If you are interested in joining the mailing list for future reports, here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gA5_7fGd #Olympics2024 #BrandImpact #Innovation #Sustainability #DigitalTransformation #HealthAndWellness #MediaCoverage #CARMA

Reflections on the Recent Incident Involving Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics I feel deeply disappointed by the recent turn of events surrounding Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics. The rules and regulations, combined with the decision made by the concerned authorities, have led to a situation that many, including myself, find hard to accept. It’s disheartening to hear some of the so-called expert opinions suggesting that Vinesh may have fallen short in some way. We must remember the sheer competitiveness of these sports; they demand not just physical prowess but also mental resilience and unwavering dedication. To suggest otherwise is to undermine the true nature of an athlete's journey. Focusing solely on weight as a criterion for disqualification, without considering an athlete's overall performance and potential, seems overly rigid. In such a competitive environment, wouldn’t it be more reasonable to introduce a margin of error, say 3% - 5%, to account for the human factors at play? Disqualifying a deserving candidate based on an absolute value, without room for flexibility, feels unjust and counterproductive. I sincerely hope the authorities will take this incident as an opportunity to reflect and implement meaningful changes that recognize the nuances of athletic performance. In my view, this situation highlights a lack of maturity and humanity in the current regulations, leading to the unfortunate exclusion of a deserving athlete. It is disheartening to see the narrative shift towards questioning Vinesh's abilities and character. This is a moment of collective disappointment for all of us. As a nation, we should stand by Vinesh and show our support. Our united backing could serve as a powerful statement, one that might mean more than any medal could ever signify. What do you think? #SupportVineshPhogat, #FairPlayInSports, #AthleteRights, #OlympicIntegrity, #SportsmanshipMatters, #ChampionSupport

Outstanding work happening at the International Federation of Sport Climbing, who have released a policy to prevent eating disorders and REDs among competition climbers. The policy marks the first time any international federation has taken an active step to limit the pervasiveness of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. It requires all athletes to submit to several questionnaires and tests before being cleared to compete. I commend the IFSC for placing athlete health and wellbeing before their performance. This policy has set the standard for athlete care and wellness, should be commended for such a bold and positive move, and now other sporting domains should see this as the call to action and be thinking how they will follow ....... While this policy may not be perfect, it is prioritizing the health and well-being of athletes, with clear structure and guidance. More about this very bold move: https://lnkd.in/gnZwe7Di

Do you really know how your sports facilities is being used ⁉️ One thing is what you have in bookings or planning tools - but the real use of the facilities often is different... This knowledges will bring you value in the planning and optimization of your sports facilities - more value to the people and community Listen in to this webinar where we will share insights on the #HallMonitor system with our partner in Benelux Sports + Vitality See you there 👀 #FacilityManagement #Data #Sustainability #Optimization #Municipality

🏀🏈 Exciting developments in the sports retail industry! 🏅🚴♂️ A recent article from The New York Times explores the impact of advancements in sports equipment on athletic performance. As a sports retail industry expert, I found this article particularly relevant and thought-provoking. The debate surrounding whether better equipment provides an unfair advantage to athletes is gaining traction. While it's undeniable that improved gear can enhance performance, it's essential to recognize that talent still plays a crucial role. Simply having top-of-the-line equipment does not automatically make an athlete more skilled. This discussion revolves around an important question: does advanced equipment level the playing field or create an unfair advantage for the privileged few who can afford it? This question raises ethical concerns, especially in professional sports where the cost of equipment can be significant. It becomes crucial to ensure fair competition and access to quality gear for all athletes. As industry professionals, it's our responsibility to be at the forefront of this conversation. Let's share our insights and experiences in the comments section, exchange ideas, and consider how we can address the implications this article raises. How can retailers and manufacturers support fair and accessible equipment distribution? What steps can be taken to prevent an unequal playing field? Join the discussion, share your thoughts, and let's shape the future of the sports retail industry together! 🙌🤝 For more industry news, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gnq3uKwb #SportsRetail #AdvancementsInSportsEquipment #AthleticPerformance #FairCompetition #IndustryInsights

The focus is understandably on athletes in the attached as it came from a consensus statement by the IOC on mitigation measures to safeguard athletes health. There is also the risk from extreme summer temperatures to the wider and larger number of staff and volunteers working outside for long periods of time, not to mention spectators. “Unfortunately, the level of environmental heat stress experienced by elite athletes will continue to rise in the coming years due to a combination of the increased prevalence, intensity and duration of bouts of … heat waves that are occurring due to climate change, and sport globalisation leading to more competitions being organised in extremely hot climates.” In the Guardian piece you can click through to the British Journal of Sports Medicine and authors of the 'IOC consensus statement on recommendations and regulations for sports events in the heat'. An interesting read for both event organisers and athletes, detailing all sorts of risk mitigation measures for major summer events. Not mentioned, but perhaps the time has come for international federations to review their global calendars, reduce the number of events and re-schedule those traditional summer outdoor competitions away from the extreme temperature months? https://lnkd.in/gQVif4xf