Exploring the Fusion of Metaverse and Sports: Current Trends and Future Directions

Metaverse is a virtual realization of the physical environment made possible with lifelogging tools like physiological sensors that help in performing life-like virtual interactions amongst users/customers present as avatars in the cyber-physical world. The metaverse is a rapidly growing technology that has the potential to revolutionize the world of sports. In this research work, we used the Scopus database to extract documents published in the domain of sports and metaverse. The descriptive analysis and collaboration analysis of existing literature, and topic modeling Latent Dirichlet Allocation of abstracts highlight the use of augmented reality, virtual reality, blockchain, artificial intelligence, wearables, and the Internet of Things in building domain-specific applications. The findings reveal that these technologies can enhance the learning and training experience for athletes, providing them with immersive and interactive environments to hone their skills. The physical and psychological well-being of athletes can be ensured with the rational use of metaverse. However, the use of these technologies also raises concerns about privacy and the protection of data. The research in the domain of information technology and information systems from marketing is also unexplored. As the metaverse continues to evolve, it is important for the sports industry to address these concerns and ensure that the use of these technologies is done in a responsible and ethical manner.