Dalton Myers | Swimming in uncharted waters

The world as we know it will never be the same because of COVID-19. The virus has brought the world to an almost standstill, grinding all sporting events to a halt, the latest being the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. When the NBA was suspended, we were already in uncharted waters as this followed the suspension of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, and several other sporting events.

However, the announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the postponement of Tokyo 2020 this week has further shown how powerful this virus is, and we are still nowhere close to understanding the extent of the damage it will leave behind. Now that the Games have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021, it eases the burden on athletes who were preparing but also leaves us with several things to ponder.

We still do not know exactly when the Games will be rescheduled to as yet, although all indications suggest spring or summer of 2021. What is clear is that there will be a lot of jostling in the next two to three years as there are several events scheduled to take place leading up to Paris 2024.

A shift anywhere can have a domino effect. Remember, World Athletics has already moved the 2020 Indoors to 2021 – the same year as the Oregon 2021 World Championships, scheduled for August 6-15. Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago had successfully bid for the Commonwealth Youth Games, scheduled from August 1-7. If World Athletics should move the World Championships from 2021 to 2022 to accommodate the Games, then this poses another challenge for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, set for July 27-August 7, 2022, as well as other events, such as the CAC Games (June 9-24) in Panama City. Of course, qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be in the mix, as well as the Olympic Youth Games in Dakar, but that event should not affect much as it is slated for October 22-November 9, 2022.

This is not to suggest that there cannot or will not be movements, but it will be interesting to see how these adjustments are made. It is not easy to find space on the calendar to host global events. Outside of global games, there were many world championships for individual sporting disciplines set for within the time frame. This is also making the assumption that COVID-19 will be under control within the next few months.

Moving forward will not be easy for athletes, coaches, support personnel, administrators, and sponsors. For now, it is not even possible to start picking up the pieces, with several countries closing their borders and placing tighter restrictions on residents.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The threats are also huge as we may not know the severity of the economic impact for years to come. The next set of host countries and cities are going to feel the effects of the virus, which, in turn, will affect the assistance that can be given to developing the sporting industry. In crises like these, sport is not considered a priority. The same will apply to the recovery period as security, health, and wellness take precedence. The other issue for athletes is the uncertainty of when training facilities will be reopened. If history is anything to go by, we know that it is also possible to have other novel coronaviruses emerging that could have further debilitating effects.

In the midst of this, though, there are some learning outcomes for athletes, coaches, and, generally, people in sport. For athletes, it is the age-old advice to save, to secure other streams of income, and to diversify investment portfolios. There are several athletes who were looking to generate income this year from the Olympics and retire. While that dream remains for 2021, a lot of athletes will not be at their best in another year, but certainly, new stars will emerge. Both new and old will need to use this as a learning experience. The same can be applied to all of us.

Let me use this space to thank all our nurses, doctors, ancillary staff, and security who are on the front line trying to ensure our safety. We owe you a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to repay.

Dalton Myers is a sport consultant and host of ‘The Drive Phase’ podcast. Email feedback to daltonsmyers@gmail.com, or tweet @daltonsmyers.