The Digital Athlete programme is in its second year of delivering and training female returners and career re activators back into the workforce with highly sought after skills to feed the Sports tech and wider sporting organisations talent requirements throughout Ireland and further afield. To date 40 women have graduated from Ireland’s ‘Digital Athlete’ programme, a collaboration between Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet and SportsTech Ireland.

Digital Athlete is a career pathway into the growing area of sports technology in Ireland. Sports tech companies work across IoT, sports performance, data analytics, broadcast, wearable tech, fan engagement, e-sports and sports e-commerce.

The ten-week intensive programme combines data skills and professional acumen to provide a combination of knowledge and skills that are specifically aligned to the sports analytics industry. The first 20 graduates were recognised at an event held during the One Zero sports conference at the Aviva Stadium. With the second cohort of graduates receiving their certification at the Sport Ireland Innovation and Technology Summit in November 2023.

The ‘Digital Athlete’ programme participants progress to a three-month mentored work placement in companies such as Orecco, Stats Perform, Epic Global, Statsports, and Output Sports, while also working in national sports organisations like Badminton Ireland

Grainne Barry, SVP Operations, Stats Perform and co-founder of SportsTech Ireland said: “Like all industries, the industry of sport has changed as teams, leagues, broadcasters, have embraced new technologies and digital opportunities. Data, digital, people and culture are converging to position Ireland at the centre of the growing sports tech industry. Nationally we have an ecosystem of indigenous and FDI companies, creating a centre of excellence to leverage the opportunities from a Sports Data Analytics market predicted to reach almost €6bn by 2026”.

Commenting on the programme, Máire Hunt Director of the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet highlighted the importance of cross-skilling to prepare candidates for convergent careers in the sector. She said: “By combining technology and business skills with an understanding of the sports domain we are generating a new and diverse source of talent for the sector. This programme is unique in its ability to interact with SportsTech company leaders and give participants the opportunity to see what it’s like actually working in a sports tech company.”

The partnership of the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet and SportsTech Ireland bring a suite of programmes to sports tech. This enable the sector to broaden its appeal by providing continuous professional development with a Postgrad Diploma in Sports Technology and Analytics and the development of ‘second career’ digital conversion models for athletes.

If you are interested in becoming a host Organisation or finding out further details in relation to the programme, please make contact with us on [email protected].