USOC Innovation Chief Will Open Sports Technology Awards
April 12, 2019
The United States Olympic Committee’s Director of Sport Technology and Innovation will deliver the keynote address at the 2019 Yahoo Sports Technology Awards ceremony.
Dr Phil Cheetham will open the event taking place on May 2nd at 6.30 pm at the Roundhouse in Camden, London.
His speech, entitled ‘Silicon Valley Giants Are a Serious Force in Sports Technology,’ will share how the USOC has partnered with executives from leading tech brands to create an investment fund, and how this approach could be the future force shaping the sector.
Cheetham was an Olympian in gymnastics and has been a leading innovator in biomechanics. His role at the USOC is to develop technology to help optimize Team USA athletes’ performance and recovery and help allocate funds donated by the USOC’s Technology and Innovation Advisory Board.
As well as being the leading global celebration of tech-led innovations in sport, the Yahoo Sports Technology Awards, part of the Sports Technology Awards Group, is also a valued forum for insights and networking, and the ceremony opening address is a key part of this.
Rebecca Hopkins, CEO of the Sports Technology Awards Group, said: “Technology can reasonably claim to be the biggest factor changing sports over the past 10 years, now tech-giant investment looks set to be the next major influence on industry development and market disruption.”
“Silicon Valley engagement is something of a Holy Grail for many sports executives so understanding how to harness the technical and financial power of technology’s biggest brands is fascinating. Sports leaders and visionaries will be excellently served by the insights Phil has to share.”
Cheetham added: “I’m a long-standing, passionate advocate of technology’s role in helping athletes, so it is exciting to take this to the next level. The executives at the top of Silicon Valley have unrivalled tech knowledge and this, combined with access to their level of funding, will be immensely beneficial for both business and sport. I am looking forward to sharing these insights with my peers at the Awards.”
