As I originally advocated in April, the decision to carefully return to competitive sport has been the right one. The impact of COVID-19 has been undeniably devastating. Yet although the circumstances remain far from ideal, the resumption of sporting fixtures has been a welcome distraction for many. It has allowed Liverpool to claim the Premier League trophy for the first time – and without having to tolerate the caveat of a coronation caused by the premature end of the season.
Becoming accustomed to watching sport behind closed doors is a necessary hurdle many are still getting used to. The artificial crowd noise at football matches is less obtrusive than one might have feared, but the sight of elite tennis players at the Battle of the Brits tournament, playing in what looked like a partitioned sports centre, jarred. The mooted Matchroom boxing plan to stage four fight nights on consecutive weekends will commence next month in the former home of industry supremo Eddie Hearn. A far cry from the sell-out arenas his fighters usually perform in, fans will be prohibited from the event to ensure social distancing is maintained.
Every day is hopefully bringing us closer to normality. In the meantime, each sport is trying to find ways to negotiate the practicalities of holding events without increasing the risk of spreading the virus. The vast majority of organisers will be meticulous in their approach and will avoid making the type of errors committed by Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour series in Serbia.
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