The effects of COVID-19 continue to have an impact on the world’s educational, financial, health and commercial institutions, and the sports ecosystem is no different. Hundreds of sports matches around the world were postponed or cancelled, disrupting organisers, governing bodies, athletes, teams and the non-stop live sports content we all love to watch.
Since the start of the pandemic, broadcasters, owners, and sponsors have all been working hard to get the sports world up and running once more. They are trying their best to manage fan expectations, minimise disruptions and plan for a future that may never be the same again.
With the virus looking likely to be around for a number of years to come, the entire sporting world has had to come up with new ways of doing things. Over the last few months, one of the main changes we’ve seen to sporting events in the UK is that they are now conducted behind closed doors.
Sporting events were allowed to return behind closed doors in June 2020, but what does this mean for the fans? Keep reading below to find out:
The Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a word used regularly in the sporting world. After all, who doesn’t love the amazing feeling you get when you’re standing in a stadium watching your favourite team play? Well, you might be surprised to know that the atmosphere created during a sporting event isn’t just important to the fans, it’s important to the players too.
It’s believed that sports require a team spirit, and no sport works well without the fans who support it. Sporting events that are attended by hundreds of cheering fans will have a much better atmosphere than those that aren’t. In actual fact, many players find that the atmosphere created by fans helps them to play better. Players like hearing fans chant their names and cheer them on and they love to see them celebrating with them when they win. So, what will it be like for fans now?
While we are still able to watch the action unfold on our TV’s, it’s not the same as standing in a stadium amongst hundreds of other fans. Watching sports on TV means you’re no longer able to collectively celebrate with like-minded fans when your team wins a match or when your country wins an Olympic gold. This new normal is hard for fans around the world.
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The Players
The coronavirus outbreak has had a huge impact on us all. Lots of us now worry about travelling abroad or meeting up with people from other households. And it’s no different for sporting professionals either. In fact, many players are now refusing to travel to certain destinations because of how active the virus is. This means that your favourite players may not be in attendance at sporting events.
However, in order to try and reassure players that it’s safe to travel and play sports, a number of measures have been put in place. These include:
- Regular testing of players and teams
- Monitoring any symptoms of coronavirus
- Matches being held behind closed doors
- A no-saliva and no-touch rule in place
Even though these safety procedures have been put in place to try and re-assure players, you can expect to see a number of your favourite players still refusing to play or travel to certain areas of the world.
The Future of Sporting Events
Fans and supporters play a crucial role in sports, but for now they’ll have to get used to taking a backseat. Sporting events in the UK are unlikely to open their doors to their fans until at least 2021. The opening of stadiums and other sports venues will all depend on how well we manage the virus over the next few months.
But, while we may not be able to attend events just yet, there is some hope for the future. Some countries are already allowing fans back into sporting venues. In Vietnam, fans are now allowed to attend soccer matches. In actual fact, over 1000 fans attended a match at Hai Pong in June.
Over the next few months, we expect to see a number of safety measures being introduced in sporting arenas in the UK. These might include:
- Temperature checks on arrival
- The wearing of face coverings
- Social distancing measures being put in place
Once these measures are introduced and the virus is under control, sporting events in the UK and around the world should be able to re-open the doors to their fans.
