Beyond the Olympics: Keeping the Athletics Fan Experience Alive Year-Round

The Olympics capture the imagination of the whole world – but what happens after the Closing Ceremony? Maintaining enthusiasm for athletics requires dedication and planning. Success in this can bring huge benefits to sporting communities, athletes themselves, fans, and so much more. So, what can we do to keep the spirit of the Olympics strong? 

Navigating the Post-Olympics Lull

It’s only natural that in the post-Olympics world, enthusiasm can wane. Without the daily updates and live sporting events broadcast to your home, it can be easy to forget about the excitement and energy of the Games. The Olympic Games are the most high-profile events out there for most sports, and since they come only once every four years, it can be hard to keep the enthusiasm flowing – other competitions simply don’t enjoy the same universal appeal and new coverage that the Olympics do. 

Keeping the momentum of the Olympics going throughout the year and beyond is key, and will benefit all athletes, from grassroots players to professionals. There’s no easy way to do this but keeping coverage coming can help. This means engaging news outlets, social media stars and grassroots fans to keep athletics and sports in the daily conversation. 

Staying Digitally Connected with Athletics Competitions

We have one significant tool at our disposal that previous generations did not: technology. Thanks to the internet and the other digital tools at our disposal, it’s never been easier to keep the conversation around athletics going. Social media can help news of even the smallest competitions reach across the globe. It’s the first place that most athletics fans turn to find out more about their favourite sports. Social media can turn unknowns into sensations overnight, making it an ideal choice to help keep fans captivated. 

Thanks to innovative technology, many sports are enjoying huge increases in engagement. Think Hawk-Eye at Wimbledon or VAR in the Premier League. These innovations aren’t limited to big-name events – there is tech revolutionising the field across all sports. Take this digital running track from Feldspar, helping to create fresh engagement in running and track sports that can be enjoyed by spectators across the globe. This technology not only improves runners’ performance but also significantly enhances the visual appeal for fans, both live and at home. The real-time data these live running tracks provide allow coaches instant access to key stats such as stride length and acceleration, which can take performance analytics to the next level. Fans can also enjoy these stats in real-time, giving a connection with the athletes like never before. 

The Vital Role of Grassroots Athletics

The more accessible a sport, the more popular it becomes. Grassroots sports can increase engagement by allowing fans not only to enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines – but also to take part themselves. Local sports clubs always see a spike in popularity during the Olympics, and when properly nurtured, this can see engagement improvements at a whole new level throughout the year. 

Encouraging fans to participate directly through things like fun runs or obstacle course challenges can be an excellent way to keep the fan experience alive. Most cities across the globe now have some variation on weekend park runs, but this can also be effective in maintaining interest in other sports. Keeping fans connected via social meetups, mentorship and competitions can be invaluable for maintaining that Olympics enthusiasm. 

Whatever sport you love, there’s sure to be a way to keep that Olympics energy flowing. Keep track of local events and clubs to find the right opportunities for both spectating and taking part. Stay connected with your fellow athletics fans across the world and the Olympics will be back before you know it.