You don’t need me to tell you just how destructive this pandemic has been for the human race. More than 2 million people have died globally, many more have been seriously ill and economies have been decimated, leading to even more problems. COVID-19 has also shaken the social framework of our lives to such an extent that it may never be the same again. But we will come out of this eventually so let’s think about the things that we can use as a positive when life returns to a semblance of normality.
For example, there are now so many things that we previously took for granted that suddenly seem like an oasis on the horizon. Just imagine that first hug with Mum & Dad in months, that first bite of your first meal in a restaurant this year, that first car journey outside of your local area, the feeling of a cold draught beer on your lips in a busy pub, that nervous excitement in your stomach when you arrive at an airport about to jet off to sunnier climes, even that first trip to the gym. All of these ostensibly mundane things will seem just that little bit sweeter from now on.
And the same is true of sport. The damage to sport has been considerable – numerous deaths of athletes, administrators and fans, redundancies at Premier League clubs, the English Cricket Board and many other organisations, the disproportionate impact on women’s sport, smaller sports clubs having to fold, events or whole competitions being cancelled and now the distinct possibility that the Olympic Games will have to be pushed back for the 2nd year in a row. But, at the risk of again sounding like a washed up football manager trying to put a spin on a horrendous 5-0 thrashing, there might be some positives we can take with us.
To begin with, over the last few months the world has seen just how important watching and participating in sport is for mental and physical health. At different stages we’ve seen schools, shops, pubs, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers closed in order to prevent the spread of the virus, but not often since the first lockdown have there been serious discussions about the shutting down of professional sport. This is partly because, in the absence of crowds, most sports have shown they can operate in a relatively safe environment. Yet it is also a reflection of how the general population and leaders of the UK view sport. The politicians know just how important the broadcasting of live professional sport is for the millions of fans who have precious little else to look forward to in these times, so it continues while many other pleasures in life have fallen by the wayside.
This enduring passion for sport is reflected in some record numbers during the pandemic for the broadcasters. Sky Sports and BT Sport’s Premier League viewing figures have been consistently up on pre pandemic levels since the return of live football in June. Sky pulled in their biggest ever audience for a live event behind the paywall in January – an average of 4.5 million people watched the 0-0 snoozefest at Anfield between Liverpool and Manchester United. This wasn’t enough to beat the record audience for a live Premier League match in the UK though – 5.7 million viewers watched Southampton beat Manchester City on 5th July across various BBC platforms. Sky’s cricket and Formula 1 coverage has also pulled in some very strong viewing figures since the summer. These impressive numbers should lead to the valuation of broadcast rights remaining high, something that will be absolutely vital for the livelihood of many sports institutions desperate for income to make up for significant losses in 2020 and 2021.
While some events – like the Olympics, Ryder Cup and Euros - have had to cancel or reschedule, some sports have actually provided their viewers with more televised live events than ever before. Before the pandemic you couldn’t watch Premier League games that kicked off at 3 o clock on a Saturday as there was a media blackout to help boost in stadium attendances. Now you can watch every game live, as long as you can afford to shell out for Sky, BT and Amazon subscriptions of course! The UFC is another organization that has been hugely proactive in providing the locked down, frustrated public with more content. After having to cancel events in March and April it then spared no expense in creating a biosecure facility in Abu Dhabi – ingeniously dubbed ‘Fight Island’ – to ensure that extra events were put on until the end of the year. In fact in 2020 the UFC put on 41 events, the exact same number as in 2019.
Another valid question to ask is whether some sports or individual competitions have become more exciting products over the pandemic. It’s a very difficult point to prove but if you look at the Premier League there is a strong argument to say it has. Having no crowds in stadiums is clearly something that isn’t sustainable (nor does anyone want it to be!) but has it led to a fairer and more exciting league? The biggest difference it has made is completely removing home advantage. The stats show that referees give less decisions in favour of the home team in an empty stadium and away sides have shaken off the intimidation factor that might have inhibited them in front of a packed Old Trafford or St James’ Park. We’re over halfway through the season and, staggeringly, more games have been won by visitors than their hosts. If it stays that way it will be the first season in history that away sides have had the upper hand. It’s led to a far more open title race with the likes of Leicester, West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa still keeping pace with Liverpool and the two Manchester sides, something which was almost unfathomable before the pandemic struck.
Then there was that utterly crazy start to the season that produced some of the most shocking score lines ever seen in the Premier League era. Aston Villa 7 Liverpool 2. Man Utd 1 Spurs 6. Man Utd 6 Leeds 2. Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 7. Did a lack of fans have a part to play in some of these games as well? When I go to the Emirates to watch Arsenal the most commonly heard sound is a collective groan of negativity whenever a home player doesn’t do exactly what 60,000 fans want him to do. You can see that the atmosphere clearly affects some players who can completely lose confidence and their performance nosedives as the game goes on. Some, like Granit Xhaka or Mesut Ozil, even respond to the taunts and groans when they are substituted, an act of defiance that never ends well for the players concerned. Not all stadiums are as negative as the Emirates but the point remains that there is an incredible amount of expectation on players’ shoulders and it is there for everyone to hear, including the players themselves. Maybe the lack of what can sometimes be a toxic and inhibiting atmosphere enabled some players to take a few more risks. For example, did Aston Villa’s attacking players attempt a few more risky flicks and passes against Liverpool because there was no fear of 40,000 fans at Villa Park berating them when these risks didn’t come off? The average number of goals per game in the Premier League has now dropped back to more usual levels – possibly because playing behind closed doors has now become the norm and the players have adapted – but that intense and gloriously unpredictable start to the season won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Other competitions have seen a similar level of excitement during the pandemic. The Indian Premier League provides one of the best in stadium atmospheres of any sporting competition in the world. The venues are packed, the sound systems are cranked up to maximum volume and the fans are cricket obsessed and ear shatteringly loud. It’s a tournament that consistently delivers on the entertainment front but last year, despite being behind closed doors, it took things to another level. Having had 9 games in the previous 11 seasons go to a Super Over, the IPL’s 12th edition produced 5 (2 of which came in the same game!). While there are clearly other factors that contributed to this surge in close games, it is nonetheless extremely interesting that the one season played without fans produced more tense finishes than any other by far. In addition, this was also a very competitive season – as the English Premier League is now – with only 2 points separating 3rd place from bottom and all sides winning at least 6 games for the first time ever.
It’s important to recognise that over the last few months we’ve also seen high quality sport played in front of crowds – the Australia v India Test series was one of the most theatrical in recent memory – and long term there is no question that sport is much better with thousands of raucous fans on hand to really pump up the atmosphere. But during this time when everything changed and Covid rules applied we have witnessed an exciting and slightly different kind of sport, one that we may not see again for a while.
The pandemic has also made many people realise the value of playing sport and being active. With the lockdowns, exercise and freedom have become entwined and now, all of a sudden, a jog seems less of a chore and more of a treat. I’ve never seen so many people out jogging or cycling in my area than I have over the last few months. Working out at home is also a booming industry at the moment thanks to Joe Wickes and the dozens of online workout classes that have sprung up. But even that all gets a bit boring after a while and over the summer I found myself playing Badminton over the garden wall with my neighbour. It’s also been noticeable that every time the lockdowns have been eased tennis courts, golf tee times and five a side football pitch bookings have become as valuable and as hard to find as gold dust. Once we get our full freedom back, I would be very surprised if participation levels in many sports don’t increase significantly.
But perhaps the biggest plus we can take out of this horrible situation, in terms of sport anyway, is that there is now even more to look forward to. Right now, I’d give my left kidney to be watching my local football team get hammered 3-0 in the freezing February rain. To be stood at first slip in 12 degrees waiting for a sharp chance which I know my rigid, frozen hands are not going to take. To be shanking the ball so badly off the tee that I have to take irons for the back nine. I’m sure I’m far from the only one who will never, ever take any of these things for granted again.