The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has made a significant investment in a new technology venture, aiming to transform the way live performance data is presented in sports. This initiative, in partnership with the creative data agency We Are Sweet, focuses on developing Dataworks Technology, a platform designed to enhance the storytelling aspect of endurance sports through real-time data visualization.
The collaboration aims to centralize and process live performance metrics, which will not only power broadcast visuals but also create engaging second-screen experiences for fans. Initially developed for the T100 Triathlon World Tour, this technology will allow Dataworks to scale its real-time artificial intelligence capabilities, identifying key moments and narratives as they occur during events.
Dataworks captures crucial metrics such as heart rate, power output, and speed, analyzing and visualizing this information in real-time. The insights generated will enable commentators and production teams to craft compelling stories from raw data, significantly enhancing fan engagement during triathlon events and beyond.
Strategic Partnership for Growth
The PTO’s equity stake in Dataworks underscores its commitment to innovation in sports. The organization recognizes the potential for this technology to become integral across various sports, not just in endurance events but also in team sports, combat sports, motorsport, esports, and even traditional games like darts and snooker.
James Haigh, Chief Technology Officer of Dataworks, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. He stated, “We’ve been piloting live data with the T100 for two seasons and have been making significant progress. Backing from the PTO now allows us to focus entirely on building a platform that transforms performance data into real-time stories for fans, not just in triathlon, but across any sport.”
The technology already powers the T100 Triathlon Live Data Dashboard, which includes extensive race information, highlighting pivotal moments such as lead changes, fastest discipline times, and penalty information. This foundational technology is set to elevate the spectator experience by providing deeper insights into the dynamics of competition.
Enhancing Fan Engagement
According to Mark Bettels, Chief Operating Officer of the PTO, the collaboration with Dataworks has the potential to revolutionize how stories of human performance are communicated in sports. He remarked, “All sports have the potential to tell incredible stories of human performance, overcoming huge adversity and staying cool under unimaginable pressure – but sometimes these key moments are missed, because no one’s pointed them out and really explained them.”
He emphasized that Dataworks will contextualize these moments for both casual and veteran sports fans, enabling them to follow the action with greater depth. This innovation is expected to not only enhance the viewing experience but also inspire wider participation in the sport by making the action more relatable and impressive.
The PTO’s investment in Dataworks Technology represents a forward-thinking approach to sports engagement, leveraging technology to bridge the gap between raw performance data and audience connection. As this partnership unfolds, it promises to redefine how stories are told in triathlon and potentially across all sports, making the experience richer for fans around the world.