A groundbreaking advancement in football technology is poised to revolutionize the sport. A tiny chip embedded in footballs, developed by a sports equipment manufacturer from Huai’an, Jiangsu, is set to make a major impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This chip, which performs 500 recognition actions per second, is embedded in the football bladder, or “heart” of the ball.
The chip’s real-time sensor feedback allows for precise body tracking, enabling accurate detection of handball and offside situations. This capability significantly boosts the accuracy and transparency of officiating. Already utilized in high-profile events like the UEFA European Championship and the Olympics, this technology provides instant data on the status of all players on the field, including their physical condition.
Zhou Hongda, General Manager of the Jiangsu-based sports equipment company, underscores that this innovation is not just about enhancing gameplay but also about providing referees with crucial information to make well-informed decisions. This technological leap promises to transform both how football is played and how it is adjudicated, offering a new level of clarity and fairness to the sport.