Remote athlete network
TEAM
TEAM: Kate Cullen – British – Architectural Designer at Wilson Owens Owens
Connecting Remote Athletes
After the Olympics and Paralympics there was debate about the impact of financial investment in sport and how it relates to success of an athlete/team and questioned how the small nations can be competitive.
It is very difficult to raise the bar training alone and without regular access to competition. Being surrounded by like-minded athletes with comparative ability helps progression.
The design proposal is to connect remote athletes, providing the smaller nations and lesser-developed sports access to compete and raise their game, providing opportunity to those who want to compete/train as a team but cannot due to financial, cultural or visa restrictions.
Weightlifting is one of the sports with a competition format which lends itself to competing across nations (as illustrated). A remote athlete base is issued with a technology and overlay pack to enable them to set up their own venue, which can be connected to a network of venues.
Much of elite level sport is based around structured; individual based measurable training, carried out in a space with basic equipment. The technology could be adapted to suit various sports and training methods to expand the remote athlete network.
At a relatively small cost and in collaboration with Sport Federations, Remote Athlete Network venues can be established.