By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The German League (BBL) season is set to resume today (June 6) and as league commissioner Stefan Holz told ESPN, the players are encouraged to wear movement-tracking chips during the tournament.
This chip – designed by Kinexon and which is similar to the wearable device some BBL and NBA teams use in practices to track movement – could lead to privacy concerns, especially because players did not agree to it. Some players contacted by ESPN said they were not informed of the league’s plans to track their movements. Many were first informed of it upon arriving in Munich on Thursday.
“It is voluntary. It is optional. It is to trace contacts. If there is one positive test within the group, the whole group could be in danger. It could be the end of the tournament,” Holz said.
Bayern Munich GM Marko Pesic noted that the players will be encouraged to wear the chips but it’s not required and explained that all movement in the arena and practice facility will be recorded by cameras that are already in place for contact-tracing.
According to a memo sent by the league to team officials, only doctors in the hotel will have access to the tracking data, and only if there is a positive case. The tracking will be used only in the hotel, not during basketball activities or trips outside the hotel. Players who wear the movement chip will not be required to wear masks at the hotel.
The tournaments will tip off at 16:30 CET with the clash between Gottingen and Crailsheim while Bayern and Ulm will play at 20:30 CET.