Like nearly all human activities, the sporting world has struggled with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there have been numerous clever ways these sporting events can occur. From hosting closed-doors sporting encounters to implementing regular testing, it has shown that sports can occur amidst even the most troubling circumstances.
While it could be a long time before sports can be played, similar to what was enjoyed just a year ago, there is hope that the current conditions shouldn’t affect our enjoyment of top-class sporting events. So, what has been done to ensure these sporting events can advance?
Regarding basic sporting encounters, various grades determine how safe the competitors are for participating. As the virus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets, it has become clear that sports that don’t involve close human contact are the safest.
This is why horse racing was one of the first sports to get back into action after a widespread halt on sporting events in spring 2020. In the UK, horse racing was the first sport to be given the green light after the Covid-19 shutdown. While no fans were allowed to attend races like the Coronation Cup at Newmarket, racing enthusiasts could still visit popular betting resources like those featured here, put down their bets, and even enjoy live-streaming entertainment.
However, things proved to be much more difficult for those sports involving closer human contact. This is why the virus hasn’t affected low-risk sports that allow for social distancing and no equipment sharing. As a result, we have seen the return of top-flight competition in sports like golf, skiing, and running.
Things have been harder to police for medium-risk sports such as football, basketball, and ice hockey. Still, the introduction of mass testing has made it easier for sporting organizations to keep the virus in check. Some sports like cricket and basketball have also seen the opening of the ‘bio bubble.’ This keeps all the athletes in close quarters with no exposure to the general public’s members to ensure they stay safe.
However, high-risk sports such as rugby, American football, and wrestling that involve close and sustained contact with others have had a harder time adapting to the new normal. Sports like rugby have aimed to reset the laws regarding things like scrums to make transmitting the virus much harder.
Away from the sporting rules, there have been other efforts to control athletes’ behavior in safer ways. All Formula 1 racing events will see drivers and the pit team wearing face masks to stop the transmission of the virus. There have been attempts to check post-goal celebrations, such as hugging in football matches.
However, the absence of fans from sporting encounters remains the most telling aspect of the impact that Covid-19 has had. Most top-class sporting events are still held behind closed doors to maintain social distancing guidelines. This has meant that many sporting organizations face big questions about how to survive financially without matchday revenues.
But there have been a few recent examples of efforts being made to reintroduce fans to our sporting stadiums gradually. The German Bundesliga has allowed some football stadiums to operate at 20% capacity. There will also be a ban on standing and alcohol consumption at these football matches.
The NFL in the US also has seen a patchwork approach to allowing fans back into the sporting arenas that align with each state’s social distancing laws. Plus, some countries like Belarus and Nicaragua have taken the fairly unwise move to completely ignore the pandemic and continue their sporting calendars. This shows plenty of different ways to carry on with sports in even the hardest circumstances.