The current COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense effect on the sporting world at every level. With the postponement of the Olympics and other world events last year there has been a rippling effect on the industry and stakeholders are gradually beginning to catch back a path towards some form of normalcy.
For as long as we know it, athletes and sporting officials among the various stakeholders have often planned their lives around a sporting competition and potentially put other life experiences, such as career opportunities, children and marriages, on hold until after they have participated or realised life-long ambitions. But not just the main performers have been doing this, fans in every corner plan their daily or weekly schedules around sporting events either as a spectator or as a participant at the recreational level.
There is now a situation where everyone has a range of emotions with so many events and life’s benchmarks taken away or there being uncertainty as to the next possible staging.
Everyone from athletes to staff and fans miss the camaraderie experienced in training or attending events. These relationships are essential for mental wellness, and life can become very lonely for someone who is used to a regimented routine.
Restrictions on travel, physical activity, and mass gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic have had major implications for athletes and players, with restrictions of access to training venues, cancellation of events, and loss of earnings.
As stated on sportsinjurybulletin.com, these implications can have commensurate psychological consequences. In recent weeks, many resources have been made available on this topic, including direct interventions for athletes, and indirect for other stakeholders including coaches and parents.
How athletes and partners in sport can collectively cope with such adversity is useful from a service provision perspective and instructive for elucidating our understanding of many topics including emotion regulation, coping skills, resilience, mental health stigma and well-being strategies.
With less sporting events for the media to cover, coverage is now focused on the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly adding to a person’s worry and anxiety.
Sports have traditionally served as a global unifier. Race, religion, politics, socioeconomic status and gender are all thrown out the window when supporters band together to celebrate the result of a competition. It provides a platform for people to come together and support their country, with the power to lift people up in times of turmoil.
Of course, sometimes you have to accept there may be turmoil somewhere in order for one to take steps or acknowledge what can be done to help ease a turmoil or other challenges our society may be facing.
With the world in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and people feeling more isolated now more than ever with borders closed and stay-at-home mandates in place, sports—its athletes, personalities, executives, coaches, leagues, teams and fans—can again prove that the cohesive power of more is greater than any single individual.
Constantly working on finding new measures to deal with the issues creeping up due to the pandemic is critical. The Players Coalition, co-founder Malcolm Jenkins said people are in need of leaders, hope and direction now more than ever with so much uncertainty in the world amid the pandemic, which is causing ripple effects in all aspects of life.
The Players Coalition in the US exists to end social injustices and racial inequality so future generations have an opportunity to thrive without barriers. The organisation was co-founded in 2017 by former 14-year NFL receiver Anquan Boldin and 11-year veteran defensive back Jenkins.
“While we talk about how everybody, in general, is dealing with the crisis, I think it’s important for athletes who have a platform like us to represent those most affected and most vulnerable and often times under-supported," Jenkins said.
Without a doubt, there is a certain togetherness, a certain camaraderie that total strangers can achieve simply by virtue of living in the same country and rooting for the same team.
Now you may have a greater appreciation as to the effect of the recent Windies victory over Bangladesh, the importance of there being matches to watch during the upcoming Sri Lanka tour of the Caribbean, not just for the viewers but also the people working at the event; and upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers which many anticipate once every four years.
One of the most positive things about sports is the pure, unadulterated joy that can result for the players, coaches, fans and everyone involved. At least once in how long. 'We taking That!" Any time something can bring out that range of extreme, raw emotion in people, it’s a good thing.
Shaun Fuentes is the head of TTFA Media. He is a former FIFA Media Officer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey The views expressed are solely his and not a representation of any organisation. shaunfuentes@yahoo.com