German football scores during the great disruption
Sporting activity is resuming, cautiously in the Covid-19 age. It is a positive development when the coronavirus has taken over lives. Stadiums will be empty as the German Bundesliga soccer league resumes but the fans watching on their screens at home will get a kick in some small way, empty stands notwithstanding. It will be a surreal experience for the players who take the field — the roar from the crowd will be missing, the chants, the noise, the blaring music, the excitement of scoring a goal or missing it by a whisker. The silence will be telling, but this is the best fans can hope for in these uncertain times. The virus has taken the excitement out of sport. What is sport without the fans, the lifeblood of competition? The thrill is gone, so is the cash that drives the industry. It has been ruinous these past months but German football wants to come back in a hurry with the accompanying risks in these troubled times. Players will be tested before the kickoff happens. The referees and officials will face an experience unlike one they have faced before. But sport must go on.
Major sports events, including the Olympic Games in Tokyo have been postponed to next year. A longer delay could prematurely end the careers of many promising sportsmen and women. The established names could go into early retirement. The sports industry is in the dumps at the moment and the revival of the Bundesliga offers hope to other events. It’s a small start in a world where the coronavirus is the biggest issue on people’s minds.
Health examination for sportspersons will now cover tests for Covid-19 among others that could delay starts by hours, but they are necessary in the current scenario. Sports training has been affected because of this pandemic which could affect performance on the field. The players will find it hard to shake off the rust, so to speak. The crowds that inspire their feats will be absent but they will be rooting for them from the comfort of their homes. It’s small consolation for the greater good. There will be concerns but these will be temporary and a new template for resumed sporting activity will emerge once these games get underway. Germany has managed to flatten the curve of infections and has slowly reopened its economy. The league has shown great resilience and courage to go ahead and score a goal against the virus. They deserve applause and support. Enjoy the games.
The league has shown great resilience and courage to go ahead and score a goal against the virus