There are several major dates in the sporting calendar these days but, when it comes to athletics, one of the biggest is definitely the Commonwealth Games.

While the next event is still a couple of years away, anticipation is already building in relation to the 2020 Commonwealth Games. Furthermore, work is also ongoing in the UK's host city of Birmingham to ensure it is ready to stage the action.

Project plans

Earlier this month, the BBC reported on fresh details surrounding construction projects linked to the games, with it being confirmed that refurbishment work on the city’s Alexander Stadium will now only be completed by April 2022 – just months before the event begins.

The £72 million project related to the stadium includes plans to boost its capacity as well as to build new tracks at the site and provide extra infrastructure facilities like parking. The BBC also revealed how an estimated completion date of March 31st 2022 has been set for the athletes' village which will be used during the event.

But while progress is being made in terms of preparing Birmingham for the event, it will be intriguing to see what kind of role technology might play once the action gets underway. Some exciting new innovations have emerged in recent years and it will be fascinating to see whether something like 5G goes on to have an impact on how we experience the games as spectators based around the globe. 

A major talking point

5G has become a real talking point in recent times and the technology actually has an existing association with the Commonwealth Games. As TechGuide.com.au outlined, Optus notably established a showcase of the technology on the Gold Coast when the region hosted the event back in 2018. The demonstration highlighted features including how 5G could offer users the chance to stream 8K video on the go, enjoyed on mobiles and tablets, or even 5G-connected laptops.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Optus 5G Live has launched in Broadbeach! 🌴🌊<br><br>Visit our showcase to discover state-of-the-art tech and get a hands-on experience of what’s possible with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/5G?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#5G</a>🖐🏻<br><br>More details in our media release: <a href="https://t.co/N7TX2W9iqf">https://t.co/N7TX2W9iqf</a><a href="https://t.co/4SeCutczKZ">pic.twitter.com/4SeCutczKZ</a></p>&mdash; Optus Enterprise (@OptusEnterprise) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptusEnterprise/status/981709064286564352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fast forward to the present and 5G is being rolled out in many areas, with some experts suggesting it will have a significant impact on the world of sport. For instance, at the end of last year, Steve Harris wrote a blog for Orange Business Services which hinted at how the technology will transform the live sport experience for fans both at home and in stadiums. More specifically, he suggested that it could give spectators access to different angles on the action, as well as VR-like graphics and real-time stats. The article also discussed how the Orange Velodrome is regarded as the first 5G stadium in France, as it allows fans to use their phones to access different sound options such as the atmosphere in a specific stand or even running commentary.

On the issue of real-time performance data, the availability of such information could also have an impact on various sport-related areas such as betting. As this site explains, mobile betting sites offer plenty of convenience these days, including an immersive touch-screen experience and increased accessibility. Their services and how they offer odds could be transformed further thanks to the capabilities of 5G, with increased mobile participation in real-time events anticipated. 

Transformative effect

All in all, while it seems like 5G could have a huge bearing on many different aspects of our lives, there is a real sense that it will have a particularly transformative effect on how fans experience sporting action going forward.

There are some big expectations around the technology, and it will be fascinating to see whether the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham becomes one of the first sporting events to fully harness the capabilities that it is set to offer.

If 5G does ultimately end up playing a major role at the event, it could give fans a whole new level of insight into what it takes to reach the top of the sporting world.