Last updated: 21st October 2026
How do you feel about drones in sport? Drones have become part of our lives, and they’re becoming more prevalent over time, but one area that’s received a lot of attention is their use in sport.
Drones are used in sport to film and broadcast live action, analyse athletes in training, stage opening ceremony light shows, help secure large venues, and even power sports of their own, such as drone racing and drone soccer. What started as a new way to capture aerial shots has become a fixture of professional and grassroots sport worldwide, and it’s creating more work for commercial drone operators.
The 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, showed how far things have come, with agile drones chasing athletes down ski runs and around speed-skating tracks to give viewers a brand-new perspective no fixed camera could match. This article runs through five ways drones are winning in sport, and what you need to know if your organisation operates drones in sport.
Key Takeaways
- Drones film and broadcast live sport, including drone follow-cam coverage.
- Coaches use overhead drone footage to analyse technique, shape and tactics.
- Drone light shows have become a staple of ceremonies and major events.
- Drone racing and drone soccer are sports in their own right.
- Flying at sporting events is a specialist activity that is often regulated and dependent on Drone Insurance and specific operational permissions.
Contents
- 1. Broadcasting and Filming Live Sport
- 2. Training, Coaching and Performance Analysis
- 3. Opening Ceremonies and Drone Light Shows
- 4. Drone Racing and Sports Built Around Drones
- 5. Security and Crowd Control at Big Events
- What Do You Need to Operate Drones in Sport?
- Drones in Sport FAQs
- The Bottom Line
- Do You Operate a Drone for Sports Commercially?
1. Broadcasting and Filming Live Sport
Broadcasters have used drones at the Olympics since 2014. At Milano Cortina 2026, Winter Olympics coverage continued to utilise drones, trailing athletes through high-speed outdoor events such as alpine skiing, luge, and speed skating at speeds that cranes and fixed cameras can’t match.
Whatever you think about drones in sport, the appeal is obvious. Motion and immersion: rather than cutting between static angles, a follow-cam drone travels with the athlete, conveying the speed and scale of an event in a way that pulls viewers in and is hard, if not impossible, to replicate without drones.
The same thinking has reached motorsport, where drones have kept pace with Formula 1 cars. Beyond marquee events, drones give production teams wide establishing shots and coverage of large playing areas at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter, where much of the commercial filming work sits. Using a drone rather than a helicopter also reduces risk, and because drone insurance is typically substantially lower than helicopter insurance, the savings and benefits of choosing drones for sports coverage over helicopters become clear.
At Coverdrone, we provide insurance for drones used for many purposes, including businesses that use drones to film sports events. Ultimately, with Drone Insurance, it’s rarely about the use; it’s about operating your drones safely and legally. To find out how we can help insure your drone fleet, get a quote from us.
2. Training, Coaching and Performance Analysis
Some of the most practical uses for drones in sport happen well away from the cameras, on the training ground. A drone hovering above a session captures a bird’s-eye view that is genuinely useful for coaching. For team sports, that overhead angle lets coaches see shape, spacing and movement across the whole pitch at once, rather than following the ball, and roughly from the vantage point an opponent might have. For individual athletes, from runners to cyclists to skiers, drone footage supports detailed review of technique and progress over time.
3. Opening Ceremonies and Drone Light Shows
Drone light shows have become a signature moment of sporting spectacle. Hundreds or even thousands of small drones, each displaying LED lights and holding a precise position, work together like pixels to form logos, animations and three-dimensional shapes. The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics set an early benchmark, with a display format that has since appeared at major ceremonies and event build-ups worldwide, including across the UK and Europe.
A great recent example of drone displays at sporting events came from the LA Dodgers, who, as part of a promotion for the upcoming Godzilla Minus One movie, put on an impressive Godzilla-themed drone show.
Part of the attraction is practical. A drone show is quieter than a fireworks show, produces no smoke or falling debris, and can be rehearsed digitally and operated the next night, which suits dense urban settings and sponsors who want precise, reusable branding. It is easy to see why organisers increasingly reach for drones alongside, or instead of, fireworks.
At Coverdrone, we already provide tailored insurance to businesses who specialise in drone light shows. If you want to find out how we can help your business, get a quote.
4. Drone Racing and Sports Built Around Drones
Sometimes the drone is not filming the sport; it is the sport. FPV drone racing, operators stream live video from a camera on their drone, giving the sensation of sitting in a hypothetical cockpit as they thread custom-built drones through a course at high speed. Drone racing has grown into an organised, broadcast sport which is overseen internationally by the World Air Sports Federation, giving this relatively new sport a way to standardise competitive events.
Racing isn’t the only drone sport. Drone soccer is a fast-paced team game in which two teams of pilots fly caged drones inside a netted arena, each side trying to fly a designated striker drone through a circular goal while the others defend. It is more established than many people realise: it was the first drone sport to be officially classified as a team sport by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). It has spread from its South Korean origins into schools, universities, and clubs across dozens of countries, including a growing base in the UK and Europe.
5. Security and Crowd Control at Big Events
One of the most obvious uses for drones at sporting events is to monitor crowds. Large sporting events bring large crowds, and drones have become a useful tool for keeping them safe. From above, a drone gives security teams a live, mobile overview of a venue and its surroundings, helping them monitor crowd flow, spot developing problems and respond more quickly than ground-level cameras alone allow. The same vantage point that makes drones useful also raises the issue of unauthorised drones near venues, which is why counter-drone measures are becoming a larger part of the planning process for major events.
At Coverdrone, we work with our clients to offer event-specific insurance. As a Commercial Drone Insurance provider, we have extensive experience helping businesses cover a variety of events, providing cover that is often required to use drones at an event, in addition to being a prudent part of operating drones at events.
What Do You Need to Operate Drones in Sport?
Almost all the drone examples in sport we’ve covered in this article are roles for commercial operators, and flying at a sporting event is rarely straightforward. Filming over or close to crowds is among the most tightly controlled things you can do with a drone, and required permissions vary by region.
Before taking on this kind of work, check the current requirements with the national aviation authority in the region where you intend to operate your drone, such as the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and be clear about what your operation involves. Insurance is also an integral part of the picture, both as a professional safeguard and because event organisers and clients often ask to see cover before they will let you operate a drone.
Beyond what event organisers require, insurance can be a legal requirement. For example, under EC 785/2004, those responsible for commercial drone operations must carry adequate aviation liability insurance. Drones are aircraft, and when used for business purposes, you must have sufficient cover for third-party injury or property damage. This regulation applies to those operating drones within, into, out of, or over the EU and the UK.
Drones in Sport FAQs
How are drones used in sport?
Drones film and broadcast live action, capture overhead footage for coaching and analysis, stage light shows at ceremonies, help with venue security, and form the basis of sports such as drone racing and drone soccer.
Is drone racing a real sport?
Yes. FPV drone racing is an organised, competitive sport with professional leagues, custom aircraft and broadcast coverage, and competitive drone disciplines are overseen internationally by the World Air Sports Federation.
Does Coverdrone insure drone racing?
Yes, we can, but with some limitations. We can provide aviation and liability cover for sporting events, but we can’t cover equipment.
Can you film a sports match with a drone?
You can, and many clubs and broadcasters do, but flying over people and organised events requires safety rules and permission that operators must follow.
Do I need insurance to operate a drone for sports events?
Commercial drone operators are often required to carry appropriate aviation liability insurance, depending on the nature of their operation and the jurisdictions in which they fly. For example, under EC 785/2004, which applies to those operating drones in the EU and the UK, commercial drone operators must carry adequate aviation and public liability insurance to operate drones in compliance.
The Bottom Line
From immersive broadcast footage to sports built entirely around the aircraft, drones have earned their place in modern sport, and their prominence is still growing. For drone operators, that means real opportunities, provided the work is done safely, legally, and with the appropriate Drone Insurance in place to meet the needs of the work being undertaken.
Do You Operate a Drone for Sports Commercially?
If you’re thinking about operating commercially at a sporting event, you can get a quote for Commercial Drone Insurance online at Coverdrone, or speak to our Support Team to talk through your needs.
