Joachim Thumfhart on how blockchain provides utility for sports

Blockchain has applications across many and varied industries, with use cases already developing across a broad range of sectors. Sports management is one of these areas, where the technology can provide utility for athletes, spectators and governing bodies looking to promote sports to new audiences worldwide.

One example of a sport already making use of blockchain is jiu-jitsu. CoinGeek caught up with Joachim Thumfhart of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation to discuss how the organization was making use of the technology to promote the sport, engage the global fan community, and build new revenue streams for athletes and the sport’s governing bodies.

The Abu-Dhabi based Federation is working to promote Jiu-Jitsu as a combat sport, with aspirations of joining the Olympic family of sports in the near future. Some 700 coaches are currently working under the Ju-Jitsu International Federation in Abu Dhabi, with the support of local government, to teach the discipline in school, to police and for recreational purposes.

In an interview with CoinGeek, Thumfhart said blockchain had enabled the Federation to build out fan and community engagement, as well as establishing new and potential streams of revenue.

He spoke of the example of digital collectible cards issued on the blockchain. These are created as tokens, with ownership recorded and transferred as appropriate on an immutable ledger. These cards are produced and promoted by a third party on a revenue share basis, providing an important revenue stream for athletes.

Given the emerging status of jiu-Jitsu as a spectator sport, Thumfhart said revenue sources of this kind were essential to supporting its growth, and critical to the mission of taking jiu-jitsu to the Olympic Games.

Blockchain is also being used to issue and record certificates and licenses. Records are written to the blockchain where they are stored indefinitely, creating an accurate, immutable register of practicing Jiu-Jitsu athletes.

Thumfhart also spoke of a number of other current and possible uses for blockchain in fan engagement, including photo sharing and storage, sponsorship and championship record keeping.