On the track and field, the 100-meter trapeze was on the verge of a decisive battle, but the referee suddenly suspended the game.-- The reason is that the uniformity of lighting is not up to standard, which may affect the starting judgment of athletes.

In sports, light is never just to dispel the darkness. It is the silent referee of the game, the transmission of exciting moments, and the witness of the athletes' limits. Behind this is a set of complex and sophisticated standards and norms in the silent support, they constitute an indispensable sports lighting industry."Rules of the game".

Tennis court lighting

01

grading Standard: Event-level lighting ruler

Sports lighting is not simple."Illuminate the field", but according to different competition levels have very different requirements. From amateur training to international high-definition broadcast games, the huge difference in lighting indicators reflects the pursuit of excellence in the light environment of professional sports.

FIBA ( FIBA)'s main official competition stipulates that the stadium lighting must not be less than 1500lux. This standard is measured 1.5 meters above the competition field and must meet the requirements of television broadcasting. However, for international basketball matches broadcast on TV, the illuminance requirement is higher, reaching 1000-1500lux, the uniformity (U1) is not less than 0.6, and the color rendering index (Ra) requirement is 65, preferably 80.

The demand for different levels of competition varies greatly. Amateur training and recreational activities only150-300lux, domestic matches rose to 600-750lux, while TV-broadcast international matches jumped to more than 1000lux. As for high-definition HDTV broadcasting, the requirements are more demanding-the illumination should be more than 2000lux, the uniformity should reach 0.7, and the color rendering index must not be less than 80.

On this basis, the national standard "Technical Requirements for LED Sports Lighting Application" (GB/T 38539-2020) issued in 2020 puts forward detailed technical requirements for LED lamps, driving power supply and lighting control system performance, which provides authoritative professional guidance for Chinese sports lighting.

02

broadcast Standards: Why is TV so harsh on lighting?

In the broadcast of sports events, the quality of lighting directly determines the viewing experience. European Broadcasting Union ( EBU) technical standards, such as R128 and ITU-R BS. 1770, clear guidelines are provided for audio loudness normalization and true peak levels, ensuring smooth transitions between different program sources.

These professional standards are derived from an in-depth study of the visual characteristics of the human eye. For example, the -23 LUFS loudness standard recommended by the EBU is based on a large number of subjective tests to ensure sufficient dynamic range without causing the audience to adjust the volume frequently.

Ultra-high-definition television broadcasts put forward more stringent requirements for lighting. In July 2023, EBU updated the UHD/HDR content exchange guidelines, making new regulations on the picture quality, number of audio channels, subtitle format, etc. of live and recorded content.

These details are important because modern broadcast technology has far exceeded human visual perception.-Slow-motion playback requires higher frame rates and more stable lighting. Ultra-high-definition shooting can capture a wider color gamut and finer contrast, while multi-camera collaboration for large-scale events requires the light environment of the entire stadium to remain highly consistent.

Tennis court lighting

《 appendix B of the national standard "Technical Requirements for LED Sports Lighting Application" specifically stipulates the "lighting requirements for ultra-high definition television broadcasting", including key parameters such as illumination, uniformity, glare value, color rendering index and color temperature, which provides a technical basis for meeting the needs of modern broadcasting.

03

certification system: high-end project"Permit"

With the development of sports industry, professional certification has become an important guarantee to measure the quality of stadium lighting. The professional testing and certification process constitutes the entry threshold for high-end project bidding, and is also a key symbol to distinguish between general lighting and professional sports lighting.

In September 2025, FIBA China and China Sporting goods Industry Federation jointly launched the "FIBA (China) Basketball venue Evaluation Project", which is a typical example of professional certification of basketball venue facilities.

According to the high-standard technical specifications of FIBA, the project carries out strict on-site inspection and evaluation on the five key dimensions of basketball field lighting system, basketball stand, sports floor material, timing and scoring equipment and field line drawing.

In the certification of the lighting system, professionals will measure a series of indicators such as illuminance level, uniformity, glare control, color rendering index, etc., to ensure that the light in the venue is sufficient, uniform, and free of interference, and to meet the dual needs of high-definition broadcasting and clear visual judgment of athletes.

The value of this third-party certification is that it establishes a set of scientific and quantitative evaluation mechanism, evaluates the comprehensive performance of the venue through objective data, and provides reliable quality assurance for venue owners, event organizers and athletes.

04

future trend: the integration of smart and green

Sports lighting standards are not static, but evolve with technological development and market demand. The popularity of LED technology is driving sports lighting to a more energy-efficient, more controllable direction.

《LED sports lighting application technical requirements "provides technical support for the wide application of LED in stadiums, and plays a positive role in improving the light environment quality of stadiums and promoting the application of LED in sports lighting.

At the same time, intelligent lighting control systems are becoming a new focus. Appendix to the Standard G and Appendix H respectively provide the reference materials of "intelligent lighting control system architecture of sports venues" and "communication protocol and configuration of intelligent lighting control system of sports venues", which provide guidance for the intelligent management of lighting system.

In the future, we will see more sports lighting solutions that integrate dynamic scene control, energy fine management and remote intelligent operation and maintenance. These systems can not only meet the flexible switching of different events and different broadcasting needs, but also realize the optimization of energy consumption.

Tennis court lighting

The norms and standards of the sports lighting industry are like a precise music score, guiding the harmonious dance of light and shadow. From grass-roots gymnasiums to Olympic stadiums, from amateur fitness to professional sports, this set of increasingly perfect"Rules of the game" is quietly shaping the face of modern sports.

With the continuous advancement of technology and continuous improvement of standards, sports lighting will no longer be just a functional facility, but a key element to enhance the event experience, ensure the performance of athletes, and promote the high-quality development of the sports industry. Behind the seemingly ordinary light is the perfect fusion of science, art and rules. This is the charm of the sports lighting industry.