A teensy-weensy virus has left the world as we know it reeling. Nothing is like it was before March, 2020, and is highly likely that life would not be the same as before any time soon.
The world of sports can hardly be any different.
Even though attempts are being made world-wide to get sporting contests back into action, it has to be done with utmost caution. One little slip and everything could come crashing down.
Sports have reluctantly accepted empty arenas as the new standard. But for the show to go on at any level, the competition has to be credible. For that to happen, sports persons need to move around from one place to another but with the threat of a Covid19 infection hanging in the air, it may yet be some time before travel across international borders becomes a reality.
For some sports disciplines like football, it is not so difficult to manage travel within a country. That allows the national league competitions in Europe to kick off, though only Germany has seen any real action so far. France and the Netherlands have already called time on their respective leagues but Spain and England continue to push ahead, albeit with baby steps.
Clubs have started training but are careful to avoid any unnecessary contact among players. Physical conditioning apart, clubs need to be more wary of keeping things "clean" since safe travel becomes a challenge, not just for players and officials but also TV crews. After all, with no end in sight for stadium gates to be opened for spectators, TV remains the only medium to carry the action across to the homes. And TV broadcast involves movement of equipment and crew across from one venue to another, thereby further raising the risks and costs.
USA may be slightly better off since their sports leagues feature mostly home grown talent with even the foreign players making the country their home since the competitions stretch into several months.
International sport, however, is a different story altogether. With a ban on cross border travel, sports like cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, etc. which depend on multi-national participation must wait before they can resume action. Low key competition may just not be as attractive to TV viewers, and hence broadcasting channels, to bring in the revenue that would support the event.
Restart may indeed be the buzzword but caution cannot be thrown to the winds. All it takes is one mis-step to bring everything back to a grinding halt.
Motto must be ... Better safe than sorry!
Clubs have started training but are careful to avoid any unnecessary contact among players. Physical conditioning apart, clubs need to be more wary of keeping things "clean" since safe travel becomes a challenge, not just for players and officials but also TV crews. After all, with no end in sight for stadium gates to be opened for spectators, TV remains the only medium to carry the action across to the homes. And TV broadcast involves movement of equipment and crew across from one venue to another, thereby further raising the risks and costs.
USA may be slightly better off since their sports leagues feature mostly home grown talent with even the foreign players making the country their home since the competitions stretch into several months.
International sport, however, is a different story altogether. With a ban on cross border travel, sports like cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, etc. which depend on multi-national participation must wait before they can resume action. Low key competition may just not be as attractive to TV viewers, and hence broadcasting channels, to bring in the revenue that would support the event.
Restart may indeed be the buzzword but caution cannot be thrown to the winds. All it takes is one mis-step to bring everything back to a grinding halt.
Motto must be ... Better safe than sorry!
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