Sport in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: towards an agenda for research in the sociology of sport
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Abstract
These are extraordinary times. Less because we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic; \nhumanity has been here multiple times in the past, sometimes with even more devastating \nresults (the ‘Black Death’ of 1346–1353, or Cocolitzli Epidemics in the 16th \nCentury, for example). Rather, these are extraordinary times due to both the huge shutting \ndown of industry, travel and borders, and the enormous level of coverage and discussion \nof the crisis through both traditional and social media formats (Stevens & Prins, 2020). \nMoreover, global, regional and national comparisons and discussions have become commonplace \nwith regards to everything from healthcare preparedness and the social \nresponse to financial pressures, work-life balance considerations and environmental concerns. \nPerhaps as a consequence, pop-up ‘experts’ on the characteristics of the virus, its \nreal (and imagined) socio-economic, cultural and social impacts, and what it might mean \nfor the future have filled our television and computer screens, the airwaves and social \nmedia feeds. Experts, professionals and others from fields as diverse as psychology, economics \nand politics continue to provide such commentary, and a frankly enormous volume \nof ‘COVID-190 related content has begun to fill the print and electronic pages of our existence. \nSuch content is also now beginning to focus upon the implications of the virus for \nsport, exercise and physical activity.