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

In recent years technology in sports has reshaped how we play sports forever. The question is does it make sports fair or does it widen the gap between athletes?

In March 2018 VAR was introduced in football to help referees decide on a decision the naked eye can't see. After this innovative change, accuracy in the premier league increased from 82% to 96%. With this tech we could help prevent mistakes that were made in the past. In 2010 Frank Lampard scored a goal which supposedly hit the crossbar even though it went in, the referee didn't award the goal and England lost the game 4-1. With VAR we can now help prevent this from happening again and help make football fairer for all.

Another beneficial example of using tech for the better is in tennis there has been a recent introduction of hawk eye, in 2025 which was designed to help reduce human error and improve accuracy. It operates by using 18 cameras around the court while a high-tech camera anticipates the tennis balls' whereabouts. Interestingly, the Independent (2025) quotes exactly that players are in favour of this decision and Wimbledon organisers feel the tournament could become antiquainted if it failed to keep up with technological advances.

As a keen footballer myself, I even use a form of technology whilst playing sports, called playmaker which tracks my stats. This is really good as over time I can track how I have improved which is really helpful. Playmaker provides clear data into my speed and movement. This shows me the areas of improvement to work on, which could put me at an advantage to other teammates who may not be able to afford the same tech.

Technology has also saved lives. In F1 there is a titanium construction on the cockpit called Halo which can withstand the weight of a double decker bus. It was acquired in 2018 after the death of Jules Bianchi and has proved successful after saving Lewis Hamilton from a piece of debris in the US 2025 Grand Prix.

The question is does technology make sports more equal and fairer? I think so if used fairly and in the right way, tech can open cutting edge dimensions that were not before possible. However, for it to be fair everyone should have access to it. That is why it is vital to have rules in sport and consequences when people cheat.