New role for sport to play

A SENSE of normality is slowly returning to the sporting world.

This weekend New Zealand will restart rugby, and there are serious discussions afoot to create a “bubble league” for the Rugby Championship in Australia, while on June 17, the English Premier League starts up again with a tasty encounter between Manchester City and Arsenal. So too will Serie A return in a fortnight. Formula One fans, meanwhile, can expect racing action in the next few months.

South African cricket received a huge boon to the upcoming season when Level 3 restrictions explained that it was one of the first major sporting codes which could return, opening up possible scheduled tours to these shores from August onward.

It has been a tough time for sports fans due to the coronavirus pandemic, but with these announcements, there is some respite to look forward to.

Nevertheless, now, more than ever, sport must be greater than the sum of its parts. It must lead by example and enforce the new status quo that we must all live by.

The days of being disconnected from world events, such as Covid-19, and the recent race protests in the US, must be considered over.

It is clear that there must be a new social contract between the fans, the broadcasters and news outlets and the sports that we watch, one where our leagues and codes acknowledge and tackle injustices, and not merely remain mum on these hot topics.

It might seem a big ask, but if there is one shared human endeavour that has the capacity to change the world for the better, then it is sport.