The decision to resume sporting competitions behind closed doors is indeed part of the normalcy that the world seems to be limping towards. But the recent spate of positive tests for Covid19 infection has once again put a huge question mark over the move as wheels seem to be coming off very quickly.
Organisers of major sports events have big contracts for television coverage, which forms almost 75 per cent of the revenue, be it a stand-alone event or multi-discipline. Obviously single sports had a better chance of testing the waters post the worldwide lockdown due to the pandemic and indeed made a cautious start as well.
Things began to come apart after the players tested positive at the exhibition tennis tournament and then followed the golfers at more than one PGA Tour event. Basketball has settled for a July 30 start to the NBA but with 16 positive tests out of 302, the danger still lurks.
Liverpool in England and Bayern Munich in Germany have done their respective football federations as well as fans a huge favour by wrapping up the title race early. That gives them a much-deserved breather before the European action scheduled for a August resumption. With a winner decided, TV companies are contractually bound to honour the financial commitment even in case of another forced interruption.
Wimbledon had a huge insurance pay-out to take care of the abandonment of the 2020 tournament but the other two Grand Slam events, US Open and French Open obviously did not play it as smart. Now both are staring at a weakened field with continued restrictions on international travel. Cancellation may not be the option for either since they lack the insurance money to fall back upon.
That appears to be a driving force as both the events have plans to go ahead with the competition in the coming months.
TV calls the shots as sports must be played without spectators to limit the chances of another outbreak. That makes the events even more vulnerable as was the case with the Adria Open tennis exhibition so enthusiastically put together by world number one Novak Djokovic, making the champion player a butt of jokes and ridicule, even his nickname of 'Joker' getting the treatment.
Sports is all about healthy competition but current times are not really conducive to one. Lure of money has made several organisers push the envelope but results have been more damaging than even they had imagined.
Organisers of major sports events have big contracts for television coverage, which forms almost 75 per cent of the revenue, be it a stand-alone event or multi-discipline. Obviously single sports had a better chance of testing the waters post the worldwide lockdown due to the pandemic and indeed made a cautious start as well.
Things began to come apart after the players tested positive at the exhibition tennis tournament and then followed the golfers at more than one PGA Tour event. Basketball has settled for a July 30 start to the NBA but with 16 positive tests out of 302, the danger still lurks.
Liverpool in England and Bayern Munich in Germany have done their respective football federations as well as fans a huge favour by wrapping up the title race early. That gives them a much-deserved breather before the European action scheduled for a August resumption. With a winner decided, TV companies are contractually bound to honour the financial commitment even in case of another forced interruption.
Wimbledon had a huge insurance pay-out to take care of the abandonment of the 2020 tournament but the other two Grand Slam events, US Open and French Open obviously did not play it as smart. Now both are staring at a weakened field with continued restrictions on international travel. Cancellation may not be the option for either since they lack the insurance money to fall back upon.
That appears to be a driving force as both the events have plans to go ahead with the competition in the coming months.
TV calls the shots as sports must be played without spectators to limit the chances of another outbreak. That makes the events even more vulnerable as was the case with the Adria Open tennis exhibition so enthusiastically put together by world number one Novak Djokovic, making the champion player a butt of jokes and ridicule, even his nickname of 'Joker' getting the treatment.
Sports is all about healthy competition but current times are not really conducive to one. Lure of money has made several organisers push the envelope but results have been more damaging than even they had imagined.
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