Who is Daniel #

Daniel is an Assistant Professor of Digitalization, Sports, and Health Management at the Center for Management, University of Muenster, Germany. With a PhD in Business Administration from the interdisciplinary research training group “Trust and Communication in a Digitized World,” funded by the German Research Foundation, Daniel combines academic rigour with real-world expertise.

Daniel’s passion for sports extends beyond academia. For twelve years, he was a professional cyclist, securing victories in international races and competing in prestigious events like the World Road Championships. His deep understanding of the sports world from an athlete’s perspective informs his research and professional endeavours.

His research explores the dynamic interplay between digitalization, sports, and health management. His interests include sports digitalization, sports management, transparency and fairness, innovation in sports, integrity issues such as doping and match-fixing, and technostress in sports. He employs a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods to advance knowledge in these areas.

A regular presenter at the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) and the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), Daniel also serves as the co-chair of the ECIS track on “Digitalization of Sports, Entertainment, and Arts,” demonstrating his passion for the field.

Beyond academia, Daniel is an active consultant in corporate health management and sports management. He founded an indoor cycling start-up that created the “Leeze Boom Board” exemplifying his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to advancing sports technology.

Why the interest in virtual sports? #

For a long time, technology in sports has primarily been used to measure and improve athletic performance in the real world. Virtual sports platforms, or meta-sports platforms, now allow athletes to not only measure their physical achievements but also transfer them into a virtual world where they can compete against each other remotely and in real time. In some sports, the institutionalization has advanced to the point where virtual competitions are recognized as standalone disciplines, as seen in cycling. This development offers significant opportunities for sports development, inclusion, and sustainability, but also presents new challenges for sports organizations.

Since fairness is a core value in sports, it is crucial to implement measures that ensure fair competitions in the virtual realm. The high data transparency on virtual sports platforms, such as Zwift, allows for real-time tracking of various performance parameters, determining their impact on competition outcomes, and identifying unusual patterns. Sports federations must develop regulations based on this transparency to ensure the integrity of sports.

Additionally, anti-doping efforts must adapt to this new form of sports. In a project funded by the Partnership for Clean Competition, I am investigating the use of remote sampling systems to conduct anti-doping controls independently of location.

The rapid development of virtual sports creates an exhilarating frontier, offering many possibilities and redefining the future of athletic competition. Now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the world of virtual sports and be part of this groundbreaking evolution.