Sport in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: towards an agenda for research in the sociology of sport

Abstract

<p>These are extraordinary times. Less because we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic;humanity has been here multiple times in the past, sometimes with even more devastatingresults (the ‘Black Death’ of 1346–1353, or Cocolitzli Epidemics in the 16thCentury, for example). Rather, these are extraordinary times due to both the huge shuttingdown of industry, travel and borders, and the enormous level of coverage and discussionof the crisis through both traditional and social media formats (Stevens & Prins, 2020).Moreover, global, regional and national comparisons and discussions have become commonplacewith regards to everything from healthcare preparedness and the socialresponse to financial pressures, work-life balance considerations and environmental concerns.Perhaps as a consequence, pop-up ‘experts’ on the characteristics of the virus, itsreal (and imagined) socio-economic, cultural and social impacts, and what it might meanfor the future have filled our television and computer screens, the airwaves and socialmedia feeds. Experts, professionals and others from fields as diverse as psychology, economicsand politics continue to provide such commentary, and a frankly enormous volumeof ‘COVID-190 related content has begun to fill the print and electronic pages of our existence.Such content is also now beginning to focus upon the implications of the virus forsport, exercise and physical activity.</p>