As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to hold its grip on the world at large, upsetting every human endeavour, many countries have been forced to make the necessary adjustments to limit the loss of human lives and the spread of infections.
One such endeavour is sports. While some countries have resumed activities albeit on a limited scale, the main feature that makes sports enjoyable and hugely profitable is sadly missing; that is the presence of spectators.
Organisers, guided by the advice of medical authorities, are now forced, at least for the time being, to play in front of empty stadiums thereby making it extremely difficult for the athletes to be highly motivated.
It has also impacted the level of sponsorship from the corporate community which too has been severely affected by the low level of business support due to the protocols that are being asked to be observed during the period of the pandemic.
The virus has spared no aspect of human life and because of the limited understanding of its behaviour and the absence of a reliable cure, administrators were left with no other choice but to cancel or in some cases postpone events in order to mitigate the risks of spreading the disease to athletes and fans.
Social distancing, wearing a mask were some of the menu of recommended measures put forward to limit the spread of the virus and these have made it difficult for the world to return to normal.
Some organisations have resorted to virtual sports, but because sports are most enjoyed when athletes and fans physically interact, the absence of this component is sure to affect viewership, especially at this time.
However, we have seen the determination displayed by administrators to get back to business while observing the stringent protocols set out by health authorities, but how engaging fans and the business community will be is a question that no one could answer right now.
Sports is a powerful medium that cuts across all divides. Like so many instances in the past, it could be the barometer that health officials use to determine whether we are back to normalcy.
We have seen the return of NASCAR Racing, the German Bundesliga, while the English Premier League, international tennis among other sporting events have already released dates for their imminent resumption.
There is hope that we are getting back to some level of normalcy.
The human race has overtime shown the resiliency to overcome challenges despite its size.
Once more many are confident that this period of difficulty that has caused havoc not seen or experienced since the Spanish Flu in 1918 will be defeated as well.
The projections for a full resumption of sports across the world are uncertain, but what is certain is that a cure will be found and sports lovers and its participants will once again engage in all the usual things that preceded this unforgettable pandemic.
Some countries will take longer than some for sports to return to a semblance of normalcy, but the overwhelming prediction is that it is not far away.
