Technology

Tech Stack: Virtual reality, NFTs and more

Featured image credit: Euroleague Basketball

Euroleague Basketball has teamed up with YBVR to broadcast selected games from the EuroLeague competition in virtual reality.

The initiative begins today (Thursday) with Real Madrid vs Barcelona, which will be viewable courtside through the Xtadium platform. Fans will be able to change between cameras when watching the games and create private watch parties to enjoy the action with friends.

The VR package will be included in all EuroLeagueTV subscriptions for all the countries where the service is operational, while US fans will be able to watch on Xtadium, the VR app developed by YBVR which is available on the Meta Quest Store.

Earlier this week, the NBA launched its own new VR experience as part of an extended partnership with technology conglomerate Meta. Check out our story for full details.

Elsewhere in the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers teamed up with with Dapper Labs, creators of NBA Top Shot, to provide fans with the chance to obtain a free digital collectible from yesterday’s game against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center.

The exclusive collectible features Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer, and was only accessible to fans attending the game. Fans were able to scan QR codes placed throughout the arena to claim the collectible, which can be stored in their Dapper Wallet.

The collectible uses LAVA, a fan engagement platform supporting Web3 technology, to provide additional real-life experiences to NBA season ticket holders. The collectible will not be sellable or tradable.

Tennis Australia has announced that Calyx, Equidi, Recut and MATCHi have been selected to take part in its AO Startups programme, which gives startups the chance to sample their technologies at the Australian Open.

Calyx is a cleantech company and provides data-driven insights to understand the environmental impact of food items, while Equidi uses evidence-based insights to help businesses level the ledger on gender.

Recut is a generative AI-based text-to-video technology company, while MATCHi enables players to easily book courts for tennis and other racquet sports. All four companies are being piloted during the ongoing Australian Open and throughout other Tennis Australia initiatives during the year.

Fans of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers can now take an immersive trip to Molineux from the comfort of their own homes using a VR headset.

Wolves have become one of the first football clubs in the world to recreate their stadium in Rezzil’s virtual reality fitness and training platform, Rezzil Player. The app allows fans 360° views from the Molineux pitch and supporters can also put their skills to the test, practicing their heading ability in a series of challenges.

Read our story from earlier in the week for more information.

French Top 14 rugby union club RC Toulonnais has launched its first NFT drop, which will allow supporters to keep a digital memory of their visit to Stade Mayol.

The first drop, called ‘RCT pour l’éternité’, will provide fans with a commemorative ticket from a match. Members of the new initiative will be invited to a private digital space and benefit from future NFT activations and experiences in the metaverse.