Everyone is excited to return to their old lives, doing things that they used to love that they can no longer do due to the pandemic. For sports enthusiasts, that is to go out in the field again and play or watch their favorite teams play.
Experts said that a COVID-19 cure might be ready by early 2021, but that estimation is more a result of medical optimism rather than scientific evidence and history. So far, the fastest ever made was Merck's mumps vaccination in 1967, which was completed in just four years.
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That being said, the sporting casualty of the COVID-19 may not end with the postponement of PAC-12 football and the Big Ten. Here are the five huge threats that the future of the world of sports is facing due to the pandemic:
1. Financial
The business in sports is in serious trouble. Just between communications in tenth place and chemicals in 12th place, sports is the 11th largest industry in the country worth $750 billion. Losing that is a significant threat to the economy.
For instance, experts estimated that Major League Ball would lose several billion during its shortened season, wherein only 49 percent of the fans believe that there will be a championship. Moreover, the NBA expects to lose $500 million in ticket sales alone this season.
Without selling any tickets, merchandise, and paid advertisements, the sports industry is in decline. Until now, no one is making a plan for making future seasons profitable if ever stadiums and arenas remain empty for two or three more seasons.
2. Medical
Athletes may be in their prime and look healthy, but like most people, they are not invincible. Eduardo Rodriguez of the Boston Red Sox tested positive of COVID-19 on July 17 in which his MRI showed myocarditis or the inflammation of the heart, one of the deadly consequences of COVID-19.
As of now, many more NCAA athletes have been diagnosed with a similar problem. CDC also said that those with a BMI of above 30 are at high risk, and in NFL's rosters, about 300 athletes are weighing more than 300 pounds or more. NFL has also confirmed that 95 players have already been infected with the virus.
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Those players and coaches who opted to continue to participate are like playing a Russian Roulette with a partially loaded an invisible gun. This action holds serious medical implications that might result in death.
3. Tradition and Normalcy
Numerous fans are disappointed in not seeing Big Ten this weekend as it had been around for over 125 years, surviving two World Wars. Understandably, the loss of tradition would have severe ramifications outside rooting interests.
Livelihoods, employees, and businesses that rely on tourist and fan revenue during the games are compromised, and the threat will further intensify once other conferences fail to complete their seasons without an incident.
4. "Amateurism" in Sports
Moneymaking sports like football and basketball at the college level are still on hiatus, and canceling season means losing more than $100 million in revenue. For example, Stanford University has stopped 11 of its varsity programs due to projected losses, and it seems they are not the last ones to do so.
Sportswriter Sally Jenkins said that prolonged pandemic will significantly reduce the college athletic departments and will eventually lessen the Olympic movement. She predicted that some of these sports might not survive, and some would revert to their club roots.
These college athletes may be considered as "students first," but it rarely seems the case because of the high competition. Seasons of playing sports being canceled may make some of these elite athletes to look for alternatives to their college experience.
5. Youth Sports and Children's Physical and Mental Health
With after-school leagues and travel teams canceled during the pandemic, it is an added challenge to parents on keeping their children active and enthusiastic.
Public health authorities predict that the nation's childhood obesity epidemic would rise due to the lack of physical activity among children during the pandemic. With less social interaction and playtime, the children are also at risk of developing mental health problems.
These consequences are slowly becoming evident with just five months of lockdown; how much more if this continues for years?
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