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10/04/2014 by
6470 views

Euroleague Basketball Hosts Europe’s First Google Glass Game

Euroleague Basketball has announced that today’s clash between FC Barcelona and Laboral Kutxa Vitoria will become the first game in European basketball to generate content on the Google Glass.

Google-Glass-Barcelona-basketball-1

This event is an ongoing collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and University of La Salle in Barcelona.

Barça’s Marcelinho Huertas will be wearing the item from the moment he enters the pavilion, showing viewers everything he sees when warming up and preparing for a big match like this.

During the game, a member of the FCB staff will don the glasses to show us what it all looks like from the bench. Nocioni will be doing likewise for the opposition.

As well as the two players, one of the three match officials will also be wearing the glasses so fans can see what the game looks like through his eyes.

Once the game is over, the Euroleague will be producing a video using the recorded images and if the project is a success, will be using the system for the Final Four in Milan (May 16-18).

Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball’s Brand & Communication Director, said:

“New technologies are providing sports organizations with new opportunities and new ways to communicate with the fans. This partnership with the University of La Salle will allow Euroleague Basketball to explore the possibilities with the Google Glass, experimenting with new tools for basketball professionals and new ways of getting the fans closer to the action and to its stars.” 

Fans will be able to see the action from Thursday’s game through the eyes of the protagonists: players, coaches and referees.

This game is the first of different test projects that will help both entities understand the possibilities for building new technology applications for both professionals and fans in the future.

Google-glass-basketball

Euroleague Basketball finds La Salle Campus Barcelona to be a perfect partner under the Euroleague Basketball Institute umbrella to continue a strategy of developing professionals in the business of sport.

Chris Kennett, director of the Undergraduate Business School at La Salle-Ramon Llull University, explains:

“We’re grateful to our partner, Euroleague Basketball, for the opportunity to implement this pilot project in such a high-profile competition. Professional sports have always been a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies and the Google Glass is no different. This is a technology that will change the way we live, and sports such as basketball will be at the heart of its development.”

Sacramento Kings

Although the Euroleague Basketball has an European scoop and this is new in European sports, the idea is is not entirely new on a world scale.

The Sacramento Kings already tested with this exciting technology earlier this year, broadcasting Google Glass views live during their home game against the Indiana Pacers. See the video below:

YouTube Preview Image

My Opinion

In marking objectives for their partnership, Euroleague Basketball and University of La Salle are pursing ways in which technology can help develop the sport and new means of interaction with fans.

With this event. they offer fans a view of the game that they never had before, which is really awesome in my opinion.

Love to see this in football as well!

What About You?
What do you think about this new trend in sports business? Which sport will be perfect for Google Glass as well?

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About the Author
Laurens Bianchi is an independent online (sport) marketing professional from the Netherlands and has been blogging on ViralBlog since 2008. Currently Laurens is also the Social Media Consultant for the Royal Dutch Football Association. Follow him on Twitter or contact him on LinkedIn.

 

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