The current COVID-19 pandemic is playing havoc with the sporting world as major events are being cancelled in an unprecedented manner, but there is always opportunity in the face of adversity, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Oh, how I wish it was like the old days. Wait, the old days were less than two weeks ago! That’s how fast the corona virus has spread around the world. Everyone I chat to in the sports industry is uncertain about what the future may bring.
Will we have any professional sport? Yes. Right now? No.
It really is a tough one because sports events are a massive production that involves massive planning and dedicated staff (who have other jobs) that you’ll never see on match day.
Throw in the billions coming in from television revenue, and you have a huge industry that works on a water-tight model with a stable of sponsors wanting their pound of flesh.
It’s a mad world, but everyone is also affected. Jobs are on the line. At least every single one of us on planet earth is in this together, united in isolation.
South Africa’s bumper summer of cricket ended in a damp squib – literally. The first ODI in India was washed out, and the correct decision was made to postpone the final two ODIs due to the Corona virus.
The IPL looks unlikely, given events going down around the world but the organisers may prefer to keep it local – minus the big stars.
It’s times like these when necessity breeds invention.
You may already know this, but One Day International cricket started after the first three days of the third Test of the 1971 Ashes Series in Australia was washed out.
Officials decided to abandon the match and, instead, play a one-off One-Day game consisting of 40 eight-ball overs per side. These are the type of quick-thinking and innovative ideas we need in a time like this.
While we all sit in limbo, there has been some great media content coming out from the likes of James Milner. Liverpool may be in limbo, but Milner has been rampant while being at home in isolation.
Even musicians are jumping on this ride with Coldplay and John Legend staging home concerts via live social media streaming.
The Coldplay front man, who was supposed to be with the band for a live concert, sat at home on his piano and via Instagram, took requests from his fans.
The intimate experience resonated with fans, who were given a glimpse into the reality of Chris Martin’s personal space of him being himself.
I would like our cricket stars to do the same. Maybe Quinton de Kock can offer us the opportunity to give us some batting – or even fishing – tips or we can ask him to bowl a chinaman.
We are all in this together and it’s important for the fans to see that their favourite sporting heroes are experiencing the same daily challenges.
A global sporting icon like Siya Kolisi sharing video clips at home with the wife and kids trying to find novel ways to humour the little ones, will go a long way in educating the public about COVID-19 and that #stayinghome is the best way to ensure we beat this situation.
South Africans have overcome many obstacles and it’s not because of the politicians. It’s because of us and our strength in numbers. In isolation we stand united.
Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
