As national and international sports are beginning to return, they will have to establish a fine line between entertainment and safety that will inevitably harm many if not made with proper understanding of this current pandemic.
For some sports, this will entail increased medical equipment, proven safety measures, and a necessary combatant to avoid the spreading of COVID-19. Without these necessary precautions, the deadly virus will affect many more than it already has, as June 27 yielded the most Coronavirus cases ever in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One major event that has been delayed due to the virus is the 2020 Olympic games, rather the 2021 Olympic games that are set to be held in Tokyo after a 16-plus month delay. Despite the prolonged setback, officials still worry if the games will be playable, according to the New York Times.
“We are moving full speed ahead with plans for the Tokyo 2021 Games, and I am very hopeful and optimistic we will have the appropriate infection mitigation process in place,” Dr. Jonathan Finnof told the Times, “whether it is a vaccine or a cure or a low enough community transmission, or an ability to prevent or detect transmission.”
Despite their many hopes, the games may still be unplayable at their set time. At this time, however, it will likely be impossible to postpone the Olympics once again. As the New York Times states, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), realizes that the Olympic and Paralympic games will either be set for July 23 and Aug 24, respectively, or will be canceled altogether.
Even if the Olympics were to return, many are skeptical as to whether competitors will participate if the virus was still to be remotely dangerous.
“Especially since a lot of nations solved the pandemic better than others,” stated Sai Trivedi, a rising freshman at Long Beach Poly High School. “These nations should be able to avoid playing with Coronavirus prone countries.”
Although the Olympics have always been the culmination of the greatest athletes from different countries at their specific sport, this new ideology sheds light on the plethora of health impacts that attending a global gathering would lead to.
On the contrary, some still believe that limited participation will still be acceptable as sporting events must continue to showcase future talent.
San Mateo High School incoming freshmen Vinayak Sarkar said that partial participation will need to be understood as many competitors will worry about health dangers. The event shouldn’t be shut down in his eyes, however, as many participants will be able to build a name and brand based on their performances in such events. He also believes that lesser known athletes must be given a stage to prove themselves and thus make needed money for themselves and their families.
Despite the high standards and impeccable skill shown off at the Olympics, it may be necessary to postpone the global event due to health risks faced by everybody involved. Because of the disparity in how countries are controlling the virus, it is illogical to continue on with the games in the eyes of many spectators. Despite this, others also believe that it may be necessary to continue to allow those who qualified for the prestigious event to be able to show off their abilities.
Few people truly understand the direction that the Tokyo Games will take next year. Even those who are closely related to the decisions being made don’t quite know exactly how everything will play out, as reported by the New York Times.
“It’s time for all of us to review what are the essential things for those Games and what are the must-have items,” Tushiro Muto, the chief executive of the local organization committee for the Olympics, told the Times. “We might come up with a new Olympic and Paralympic Games that are unique to Tokyo, but exactly how that is going to be, I can’t give you the details.”
Summarrized Michael Lynch, a consultant of numerous Olympic Sponsors who spoke with the Times, “We’re going to learn so much more as to how these events are going to happen.”