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Russian Journal of Information Technology in Sports
Journals / Russian Journal of Information Technology in Sports / Volume 3 Issue 3 / Cyber trends in sport as a new environment for guided human development
VAK Russia 1.2.1 JEL I12 UDC 796.01 CSCSTI 77.03 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 49.03.01 Russian Library and Bibliographic Classification 75 Russian Trade and Bibliographic Classification 83 BISAC COM074000 VAK Russia 5.3.2 VAK Russia 5.3.4 VAK Russia 5.8.5 JEL O33 JEL Z21 UDC 004 UDC 612.821 UDC 004.8 UDC 004.946 UDC 612.766.1 CSCSTI 77.05 CSCSTI 77.29 CSCSTI 28.17 CSCSTI 28.23 CSCSTI 50.43 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 49.06.01 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 49.03.02 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 09.03.01 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 37.03.01 Russian Classification of Professions by Education 12.03.04 Russian Library and Bibliographic Classification 58 Russian Trade and Bibliographic Classification 51 BISAC COM079010 BISAC SPO041000 BISAC SPO061000

CYBER TRENDS IN SPORT AS A NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR GUIDED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Cyber trends in sport as a new environment for guided human development

Published in Russian Journal of Information Technology in Sports · Volume 3, Issue 3, 2026 · Pages 1–18 · Rubric: DIGITAL SPORTS
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62105/2949-6349-2026-3-3-e202615 · EDN: ELTNOI
Received: 20.08.2026 Accepted: 18.09.2026 Published: 22.09.2026
Authors
SE
Sergey Parastaev
ORCID ResearcherID SPIN
IG
Igor Mitin
ORCID SPIN
ABSTRACT
Relevance. Cyber trends in sports can be seen as a manifestation of an anthropotechnological shift, where sports activities are integrated into a complex system of interaction between the brain, body, digital environment, and control systems. This digitalization is happening in two main directions: as a tool for training management, functional control, and analysis of competition, and as a source for new sports disciplines such as virtual and simulated sports, esports, and digital and operator sports, as well as for adaptive and rehabilitation applications of digital technology. Objective. To understand cyber trends in sports as digital and hybrid environments for guided human development, identify the main types of cyber sports practices, describe the subjects of these activities, and define the tasks of medical, biological, and psychophysiological support. Methods. A conceptual comparative review of the Olympic line of virtual and simulation sports, esports, phygital and operator disciplines, as well as the adaptive and rehabilitative applications of digital technologies. Analysis of literature on the psychophysiology of sports, sports medicine, and esports research; analysis of documents from the International Olympic Committee and the regulations of the Russian Federation; comparative analysis of environments based on the type of activity and functional requirements. Results. It is suggested to differentiate between virtual sports, simulated sports, and esports as different anthropotechnical environments that differ in the structure of physical activity, cognitive and sensorimotor load, and the way results are generated. Traditional sports develop physical-motor skills in athletes, while digital replicas of classic disciplines act in virtual or simulation models. Esports, on the other hand, involve cognitive-interface competition, with digital disciplines representing cyber-physical athletes operating through technical interfaces in high-speed and uncertain conditions. Monitoring these environments should include assessing functional status, cognitive load, stress, sleep quality, visual fatigue, and recovery. Conclusion. Cyber trends reflect a transition from sports as a primarily physical and motor activity to a range of digital and hybrid anthropotechnical environments. In these environments, the outcome is determined by a combination of physical, cognitive, sensorimotor, and interface components. This potential can only be realized with scientifically supported methods such as monitoring exercise, recovery, sleep, and visual fatigue. Additionally, it is important to prevent problematic gaming behavior through these methods.
KEYWORDS
cyber trend, esports, phygital sport (functional-digital sport), guided human development, anthropotechnical environment, sports psychophysiology, functional state, intelligent support systems
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