This chapter has been drafted following The STA Group’s Great Debate event in September. 150 people from all walks of sport gathered to hear four industry experts discuss the topic of athlete data ownership. Former Olympic sprinter, turned sports entrepreneur, Andrew Steele and Tim Lopez, Director CSM Talent, argued for athletes to control their own data, while lawyer, Andy THE DEBATE OF Danson, Bird and Bird and Paul McKernan, CEO, STATSports argued that this data should ATHLETE DATA belong to the organizations which collect it. OWNERSHIP What was the result? A draw. What was apparent is that some sports and competitions – most notably tennis and cricket – have seized the initiative in this space while some other federations will soon find themselves playing catch up.