Which sports have been affected the most by Covid-19 and the lockdown
JOBURG – Some sports have had it worse than others since the lockdown began.
All sport was affected in some way by the spread of the coronavirus and the ensuing nationwide lockdown, but some were more affected than others.
Even golf and tennis, which were allowed to resume before most other sports, suffered setbacks with golf days, tournaments and leagues being put on hold.
Their smaller professional divisions were also opened before the club and social sides of the game – upon which many sports clubs rely for revenue.
Schalk van Rooyen resists a tackle while playing for Khosa Sports Club in a match before the lockdown. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Other sports had to wait longer, despite coaches, players and pundits telling government they could open their sports safely.
Many big sporting events were either postponed or cancelled, while some running, cycling and martial arts events were held virtually. Runners and cyclists could exercise at home (before lockdown Level 4 allowed them outdoors), and martial arts practitioners could do their gradings or patterns competitions through live online videos.
While professional soccer and cricket divisions got early go-aheads from government, their club counterparts had to watch on for weeks before they received the green light, and no soccer matches were allowed.
Cricket clubs must wait until next year before the Central Gauteng Lions leagues kick off, and so must sponsor and organise their own matches in the meantime.
However, it is rugby that drew the shortest stick.
Diggers and Wanderers rugby clubs will have to wait longer for their next match-up after the Golden Lions Rugby Union postponed all club rugby until next year. Photo: File/Nicholas Zaal
For it is not only school and varsity rugby that has been forced to wait until next year before reopening, but club rugby too.
This means that while professional and international rugby has resumed, those not on some kind of franchise’s payroll cannot even have rugby training sessions, let alone matches.
Fitness training and exercise classes are the way forward for many rugby players who want to maintain their fitness before the season officially starts.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union decided it could not oversee the safe opening of the sport.
Some people agree with this decision, but many in the industry believe the sport should have been allowed to open at least in a small and safer capacity.
