Can technology make sports more equal, or does it only widen the gap between competitors?

I think that technology does not bridge the gap between competitors in sport as many countries will have more funding to spend on the most modern technology such as Iceland who spend around £978 per person annually on sport while Wales spends around £59 per person annually on sport. That means a rich country like Iceland can invest 10–15 times more money per person than a poorer one like Wales. This money funds stadiums and training centres, sports science and medicine, professional coaches and athlete scholarships and funding.

One reason for this is that wealth helps counries win more Olympic medals. This is shown by research stating that national wealth and population contribute to about 40% of Olympic success. The reason that rich countries often dominate sports is because they can afford high-quality training systems, specialised equipment and hosting and travelling to international competitions. Countries like USA, China, the UK and Germany spend billions on elite sport. This is because medals matter politically and the media and sponsorship value is higher than that of grass roots and participation.

However, despite financial power largely influencing success, there are other factors too. A good example of this is Brazil in football. Brazil’s football institutions and competitions have existed for over a century. The national team has won the FIFA World Cup five times (the most in history). This tradition creates elite coaching knowledge, established scouting systems and national pride and expectations. Brazil is good at football for a plethora of reasons. One reason is that Brazilian clubs often sell young players to Europe early. Top European clubs invest heavily in Brazilian talent because of its well-known quality. Many stars moved abroad young, including Kaká, Vinícius Júnior and Ronaldo Nazário. Another way that Brazilian football developed is by many Brazilian players developing their style outside formal academies. Players like Pelé, Ronaldinho and Neymar grew up playing futsal, street football, and beach football, all of which emphasize close ball control, improvisation as well as flair and dribbling. European funding then further develops these players.