FIA President Jean Todt met with fellow leading motor sport figures at the world’s largest consumer electronics and trade show (CES) in Las Vegas on Saturday (7 January). There he discussed the role of new technologies in the continued expansion and accessibility of the sport, as well as how sports technology can produce wider societal benefits.

Todt was among the participants on a panel exploring the benefits and challenges technology poses for professional sports. The discussion was part of the three-day Sports Business Innovation Summit, part of the 50th annual CES.

The panelists agreed that the impact of technology on every part of modern life – notably sports – is undeniable.

“You go into a restaurant, you go just about anywhere, and you see everybody in their own world, using mobile devices,” Todt observed. “Clearly, this new technology is a new opening, a new way to access all sport. It can be motor racing, it can be tennis, it can be anything – it’s all part of the sport technology phenomenon.”

Todt and Agag joined Zak Brown, Executive Director of UK-based McLaren Technology Group, and Avin Arumugam, Senior Vice President of VISA, in the discussion. The conversation was moderated by veteran motor sport journalist James Allen, the official interviewer for FIA Formula One press conferences.

The summit attracted former and current professional sports stars and sports executives from around the globe. 

“If you look at our fan base, it’s very digitally savvy,” said Brown. “I think you’re seeing media companies looking to get more content, to push out more content to Formula One fans.”

Both Todt and Agag were asked about the innovative Formula E e-race held later in the day at CES that pitted professional 20 Formula E drivers against 10 sim racing competitors. The FIA-sanctioned event offered a $1 million total purse, making it the richest in e-sports racing history.

Todt said FIA and Formula E also are building the motor sport fan base with apps and other digital innovations that create connections between fans and their favorite drivers. “It’s something new, it creates interest,” he added.

All of the panelists expressed confidence that technological innovations being made on behalf of sports will ultimately benefit all of society. Todt was also asked about the broader societal role Formula E is playing by familiarizing the public with electric vehicles, and the impact this will have on the future of road safety.

“Clearly, it’s given [electric automobiles] a lot of visibility,” he said. “The new technology creates innovation as well. All of these new technologies are essential to saving lives all over the world,” Todt said, pointing out that much of the world doesn’t enjoy the technological innovation featured at CES. “Much of the world doesn’t have access to education, law enforcement, working infrastructure. In many countries, technology is still to come.”

After the panel, Todt visited CES’ Eureka Park, home to more than 500 start-up companies looking to launch new products, services or ideas.

He also went to CES’ Self-Driving Technology Marketplace, which showcases technology advancing autonomous-automated driving including parking assistance, collision avoidance and emergency braking. The marketplace argues that advanced vehicle technology could eliminate more than 90 percent of U.S. road traffic deaths, and as part of his visit, Todt experienced some of the latest technology first hand in a driverless BMW.