On the final day of the 2025 TaiSPO exhibition, the sports science empowerment research team hosted a forum titled “Sports Without Limits x Sustainable Technology.” The forum was split into two sessions, both hosted by Dr. Huang Chun-ju, Director-General of the National Science and Technology Council’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The second session focused on how advanced technology supports diverse and sustainable sporting practices. Distinguished guest speakers included Chen Yi-hsiu, head of Garmin’s sustainability department, Yao Yan-yao, founder of H2U Health and SportsNote, and Dong Fang Chieh-te, director of Soochow University’s ultramarathon event. They discussed how technology can promote sustainable development in sports and bring innovative opportunities to the future of the sports industry, emphasizing the importance of implementing ESG (environment, social and governance) principles.

Garmin adheres to ESG principles for sustainable management throughout its product design process and corporate operations, Chen said. She explained how sports technology plays a key role in helping people exercise sustainably.

“For example, smartwatches provide location tracking and health data, which not only ensure athletes’ physical safety, but also assist rescue teams in completing missions more efficiently with GPS navigation, effectively utilizing resources,” she said.

Chen emphasized that Garmin sports technology is used not only by the general public, but is widely spread across industries and governmental agencies. Through its innovative technology, Garmin makes sports and everyday life safer and more convenient for its users, she said.

Yao shared his experience at promoting sustainability in sporting events. His team collaborated with the sports science research team on the Yoyo Deep Breath app, planning 21 walking trails near World Masters Games event venues.

“The initiative encourages the public to go hiking, as they earn virtual green points for every 400 meters they walk, which can be exchanged for souvenirs. Over time, people may integrate hiking into daily life, which not only promotes carbon reduction and sustainability, but also improves public health,” Yao said.

He further pointed out that although marathons create a large amount of trash, recent statistics show that 60 percent of runners are willing to pay more to participate in sustainable events. As such, SportsNote has leveraged AI technology to promote virtual running events, such as the Fubon “Run for Green,” which had over 30,000 participants, Yao said. In addition, personal AI-driven recommendations and data analysis have made people more motivated to exercise and enhanced their training, he said.

Dong explained how at Soochow University, they encourage students to incorporate the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) when planning events. “By inventorying all resources, we can select eco-friendly materials, reduce waste and minimize trash,” he said.

“Soochow’s ultramarathon has been held for 25 years and been certified gold by the International Association of Ultrarunners five times, representing the highest level of recognition in international ultramarathon events,” Dong said. He emphasized that the Soochow ultramarathon has incorporated advanced technology for many years, improving runners’ experiences. Through image recognition and digital analysis, it provides runners with more accurate technical suggestions to reduce injuries and improve performance, he said. Dong emphasized that the value of ultramarathons lies in enhancing safety and performance through technology, while also integrating public welfare efforts to create a sustainable sports ecosystem.

Huang closed the session by highlighting that technology always stems from human nature. “Many technological developments originate from the need to compensate for human shortcomings. Applying technology infused with the spirit of ESGs to sports culture and events establishes a foundation of shared prosperity, allowing the use of technology to embody sustainable values,” he said. With the continuous advancement of technology, society moves toward a better and more sustainable future.