The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world. Nothing is the same as people are quarantined at home, workplaces are closed and social gatherings are curbed. Sports events have also been postponed or canceled. At this point in time, the focus is solely on preventing the spread of the infection and saving lives. The biggest question for sports lovers now is whether professional sports would make a comeback and if there will be a new normal in this field as well. Though things may be looking bleak right now and all the emphasis is on essential activities, there is hope that sports will be back in the post-pandemic world.
Re-imagining sports post-COVID
While the whole world waits for a tangible cure for the pandemic, it is clear that countries would need to go the extra mile to ensure physical health and mental well-being of their populations. So you can well imagine that sports would become all the more important, right from the bottom of the pyramid. Simply speaking, recreational sport will be as significant as professional sport in the post-pandemic era. At the same time, you cannot overlook the value of the professional events from the economic perspective because such events generate revenues for the governments. Obviously, they would have to be started once things get back to normal.
The value of sports to the community
Another reason why sports will continue to thrive even in the post-pandemic world is the value they deliver to the community as a whole. Sports can strengthen them and build their resilience in the crisis. According to Fred Buckley, former Quarterback, Stanford University, sports connect people and allow them to generate a common identity. College student-athletes, professional sportsmen and sports lovers who are connected through shared interests understand themselves as members of one community that strives towards a common goal. This is the attitude that the world will need to get a fresh start and rebuild everything that the pandemic has destroyed.
Sporting events in the new normal
When it comes to organizing sporting events in the new normal, things are surely going to be different. However, teams will have to return to the venues for the sake of survival, even if it means that they would have to play in empty venues. Thankfully, they can explore digital and virtual platforms instead of living viewership to make up for the revenues. A TV event, in fact, has the potential to draw a massive viewership because people are deprived of entertainment right now. At the same time, this can open an alternative revenue stream for the leagues and broadcasters so that they can earn big money through advertising. Sponsors and teams can join hands to come up with creative solutions amid their difficult financial situations to ensure that everyone benefits through the arrangement.
Right now, even as restrictions are being lifted, you cannot expect fans to walk back into the stadiums and cheer their favorites. Still, this is just a pause, not an end because the pandemic will end eventually and life will surely be as good as it was.
