COVID-19 AND SPORT.
The whole world has been struck with the disastrous coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Claiming over 2.5 lakh lives worldwide , the virus has wreaked havoc in just about every nation globally. Industries , healthcare , sport , economy and various other sectors have been impacted in a way that nobody would’ve imagined! Every country and every government is trying its best to contain the spread of the lethal virus and minimize the loss of life to whatever extent possible.
For sports lovers like myself , the coronavirus has been unimaginable , frustrating in so many ways , and definitely an event that will go down in the history of sport and will be remembered for having halted global sport , for many years to come. Being unable to play whatever sport outdoors without restrictions ; not being allowed to walk about freely or exercise , whether it is in the gym , on the streets or in the local park ; missing out on our dose of sporting entertainment day-in and day-out despite the unabashed love and passion ; the times are undoubtedly challenging. Be it the Indian Premier League , Roland Garros and Wimbledon , the Premier League and La Liga , the NBA , all the tours of the PGA , ITTF , IHF , BWF ; none of them have been spared by the virus. Even the highly anticipated Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed to 2021 , due to the chaos and uncertainty created by Covid-19.
In these testing times , it is very important to stay safe and stay at home. I do believe that as the whole situation stands now , sport can surely wait. The lives of people are at stake , and how! There have been various talks about how at least some sports can resume and take place , maybe without crowds , with extra care regarding hygiene and under serious restrictions. On the contrary , I think very few sports can and should be permitted to re-start , some of which could be badminton , tennis , and probably motor sports (with exceptions). Apart from the absence of the spectators factor which takes away from the essence of the game , there are arguably too many people and too much contact involved in most other sports , especially in rugby , cricket , football and so on. However , with the Bundesliga set to kick off again , it will be interesting to observe what unfolds! It is genuinely very unfortunate and an unprecedented situation , and so many coaches , managers , players , volunteers , trainers and organizers have and will continue to lose out , but under the ongoing circumstances , life does come first and there are not many other choices.
Without live action at present , sportspersons are keeping in touch with the game only through practice and training at home. They are managing to stay fit and are focusing on mental strength as well. Off late , various athletes are taking part in ‘live chats’ on Instagram and other platforms to converse with fellow athletes and keep the fans engaged and updated. The pandemic , training and fitness , fan questions , return to the sport post the lockdown ; all these aspects and more are discussed during the live sessions. Another source of pass-time for everyone stuck at home is the ‘retrospect highlights’ being uploaded by numerous sporting companies , which takes us back to some of the great games of the yesteryears and helps relive the iconic thrillers! Most professional leagues have begun the process and they are available to viewers on YouTube , Hotstar , ESPN , etc. Apart from this , TikTok has become the go-to entertainment app for many , which is a trending online application wherein people upload videos of themselves. Hundreds and thousands of the players we love on the field have taken to this application to keep themselves busy and happy off the field , and have also posted their videos on all social media platforms , which also gives the viewers something to watch and enjoy!
It is so crucial for every one of us to make the most of this tricky time and keep ourselves engaged and entertained. It is a great opportunity to do the small things which we never could do or thought of requiring to do. Whether it is cooking ; spending time with our loved ones doing some fun activities ; calling some people that matter the most , which may not have been possible earlier ; reading or watching something that interests us ; now is the time! Somewhere down the line , it is also necessary to realize that we are among the privileged ones and it is extremely important for us to be aware and follow the required norms and guidelines at least now , for the safety of ourselves and the ones around us. Wherever possible , give back to the ones less fortunate , it can be a small sanitizer for someone who cannot afford it , a few essentials for the individuals in need , some love for the beautiful animals who have no idea of the crisis and are just longing for some food and some company , aid for the funds working hard to help the warriors in the medical sector , or anything else that we can think of. At the end of the day , we are all in this together! Sport teaches us these things. We must never ever give up , till the very end. Play and abide by the rules and regulations in the right spirit. Mutually assist one another , a combined effort will always ameliorate the chance of success. Keep yourself fully protected and ready to face your fears. That’s the beauty of sport and life- we win some and we lose some ; but it is the journey and experience that is hard , yet so joyous and supremely fascinating!
