Letter to the Editor: COVID-19 and Its Impact on the Sports Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Fredrick Mulenga Chitangala ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
Sports Industry ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
First Case ◽  
Racial Barriers ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancies ◽  
The World ◽  
And Training

One of the most quoted statements in sports literature was uttered during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Johannesburg in which Nelson Mandela said, and I quote “Sport has the power to change the world, “It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers”. Every athlete wants to make a contribution to this and they have to put their lives on hold just for the nation. They sacrifice their relationships, friendships, and life in general just so other people can smile. Now there is COVID and athletes have been home. The emotional rollercoaster is real. The constant influx of information, changes to daily routines, uncertainty with personal health and the health of others coupled with rapidly changing reports, ischaracteristic of the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. All of which is physically and emotionally draining. Some studies have reported certain common feelings among athletes as follows: fear, anxiety, loss, relief, confusion, disappointment, exhaustion,frustration, and anger. Mandates to stay home and socially distance may cause you to feel physically alone. However, this has made several athletes feel like they are on an emotionalisland. There are understandable uncertainties and anxieties about when qualifiers will be held, how to maintain fitness and training, and whether the Olympic/Paralympic Games will occur or not. For some, this comes with permanent changes such as unwanted and unplanned pregnancies among female athletes, substance abuse, and overweight. This can never be clearly explained unless you are experiencing it.In Zambia, the year 2020 was as tormenting as it can get, from experiencing the hitherto unexplained gassing of citizens incidences with some dangerous chemicals to the realization of a COVID-19 outbreak and report of first case in March of 2020. Now every journal, media house and story teller has reported how it is no longer a hyperbole to claim that this new virus has left no life, sector or industry unaffected. In the first few months of the pandemic, the world had focused mainly on the effects of COVID-19 on the larger public and businesses, with concerns for athletes’ wellbeing hardly hitting the limelight.

Online Chinese discussions about the 2014 World Cup

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyi Yang ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Andrew C. Billings
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Sina Weibo ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sports Industry ◽  
The World ◽  
Positive Valence ◽  
International Event

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore online discussions about the 2014 World Cup on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Because China did not qualify for the World Cup, the study focusses on the role of online discussions surrounding a worldwide international event from an outsider perspective. Doing so will uncover not only the depth of dialogue surrounding issues of nation and sport, but – perhaps more importantly – also aid in uncovering the utility of online platforms in creating online communities even among presumed outsiders. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis of the discussions on Sina Weibo is used to identify differences between fanship comments and non-fanship comments in terms of the focus of the content and the degree of valence. Findings Overall, fans were more likely than non-fans to use positive valence in their comments to enhance the value of the World Cup. Moreover, fans were also more likely to discuss topics closely related to the event itself, such as teams, athletes, and factual information/news about the World Cup, establishing identification with in-group participants. Moreover, the findings also imply important insight regarding electronic commerce opportunities. Originality/value This paper is among the first to investigate the online discussions about World Cup in China. Theoretically, this paper provides a comprehensive framework to examine the online discussions of mega-sporting events in China based on theories of social identity theory and nationalism. Practically, it provides baseline data for the sports industry and public relation practitioners to promote a sports event when the direct nationalistic interests are absent. Moreover, it also aids in uncovering the substantial changes in sports-related communication, experiences, and mediated participation.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Air Quality Levels in Samsun, Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Bahtiyar Efe
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Data Completeness ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
First Case ◽  
Metropolitan Cities ◽  
The World ◽  
The Government ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Different Levels

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (hereafter COVID-19) has changed the daily routines of people around the world. The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in December 2019, whilst it was confirmed on 11 March 2020 in Turkey. After the number of cases reached 4500 per day by 10 April, the government declared more restrictive lockdown measures for 31 metropolitan cities, which were implemented for the following weekends and national and religious holidays. The changes in the concentrations of CO, NOx, NO2 and PM10 during the period of these measures with respect to the pre-lockdown period and for different levels of measures for Samsun, the biggest city of the Karadeniz region, were investigated in this study. The daily mean concentrations of CO, NOx, NO2 and PM10 were obtained from Tekkekoy station due to it having data completeness greater than 95% for all pollutants. The average CO, NOx and NO2 concentrations during the lockdown period declined with respect to the pre-lockdown period, whilst PM10 increased by 3%. The average concentrations of all the pollutants decreased when the level of restrictions increased during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The number of days exceeding the WHO limit for PM10 was decreased during the lockdown period to 16 days with respect to the pre-lockdown period at 19 days. There was only a positive weak relationship between the mobility decrease rate and NO2 concentrations.

“Performing” Sport

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Rinehart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Divided Societies ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
The World

This paper frames, and creates, a fictionalized two-act play based upon two real yet imagined contexts: 1) 1975, apartheid-era South Africa (involving cricket, Yacoob Omar—who was one of South Africa's premier Black cricketers during apartheid, other 1970s-era cricketers, and a fabricated scenario), and 2) a 1995, “post-apartheid” South Africa (involving the World Cup of Rugby, Nelson Mandela, and various others). These scenarios seek to explore sport practices, where some of the naturalized aims, ideologies, and assumptions of sport will be challenged. Might we, by challenging such deeply-held ideologies that much of sport promotes, begin to see sport as potentially liberatory, cooperative, and a possible means to promote understanding for the increasingly-divided societies of the world?

scholarly journals Dansk kvindehåndbold i medierne: Fra "jernhårde ladies" til småpiger

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sine Agergaard
Keyword(s):  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
World Cup ◽  
National Team ◽  
National Community ◽  
Sports Events ◽  
The World ◽  
National Sentiment ◽  
The Media

Sine Agergaard: Danish women’s handball and the media: from iron ladies to little girls The media have been interested in the Danish national women’s handball team since the beginning of the 1990s because the team has brought back international victories. However, an analysis of the two latest international sports events in women’s handball reveals a shift in the depiction of the Danish national team. At the European championships (Euro 2002), the media constructed a strong national sentiment that helped to support the Danish handball ladies, while at the World Cup in 2003, the same media produced ironical reports about the physically andmentally weak Danish handball girls. Using Wuthnow’s and Zeuner’s studies of the written, spoken and ritual contributions to discourses, this analysis compares one Danish newspaper’s and one TV-channel’s depiction of the two international sports events. In the first event, the media constructed a national community of discourse with written and spoken reports from Euro 2002 as a ritual course of events for the Danish handball ladies. In the second event, the media produced different national, physiological and psychological discourses to explain the defeated girls. The article also discusses the media’s tendency to focus on gender stereotypes when discussing top female athletes, such as masculine strength or feminine weakness instead of gender variety.

scholarly journals Managing Male And Female Athletes For Increased Sports Performance In Public Universities In Rivers State

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 633-640
Author(s):  
G. A. Deemua
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
University Administrators ◽  
Sports Industry ◽  
Intellectual Skills ◽  
University Level ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The University ◽  
Rivers State ◽  
And Training

For any organistion to survive, it must depend on the good welfare package which such organization has for the staff and students inclusive. Managing student-athletes behaviours pre-requisite for increased sports performance at the university level. However, in recent times, university administrators have not been giving attention to properly managed and prepare their athletes for national and international competitives. These problems like inadequate funding, lack of facility and training equipment, poor training programmes, poor motivational techniques and, lack of incentives have been attributed to over management of athletes’ behaviour which has affected the performance of athletes. Parents, coaches and stakeholders in the sports industry need to play as stronger educational and supervisory role so that these young athletes will be able to acquire both physical and intellectual-skills which will enable them to live well and help in the development of the society.

scholarly journals The Effect of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Eating Habits and Food Purchasing Behaviors of University Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hacı Ömer YILMAZ ◽  
Ramazan Aslan ◽  
Cihan Unal
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Purchasing Behavior ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Food Purchasing ◽  
Daily Life Activities ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
And Training

COVID-19 disease, which spread rapidly all over the world after the first case was detected, became the primary agenda of the countries. Radical measures have been taken by governments to prevent the spread of the disease. Precautions and warnings to prevent disease caused some changes on daily life activities of people. University students who have to stop education are among the groups most affected by this disease sociologically, psychologically and physiologically. The aim of this study was planned and conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on university students' eating habits and food purchasing behavior. The study was completed with 866 university students education and training at the faculty of health sciences. Research data was obtained by online questionnaire. This questionnaire has been prepared with the information obtained as a result of the literature review and the opinions of experts by researchers. The questionnaire includes questions about eating habits and food purchasing behaviors. A result of the study, COVID-19 disease caused significant changes in the eating habits and food purchasing behaviors of university students. In general, it was found that the participants increased their consumption compared to before COVID-19, they paid more attention to hygiene while food purchasing.

Policy Review: Dubai Health Authority’s COVID-19 Rapid Response

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (Special) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the entity regulating the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Dubai, ensuring high quality and safe healthcare services delivery to the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, indicating to the world that further infection spread is very likely, and alerting countries that they should be ready for possible widespread community transmission. The first case of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates was confirmed on 29th of January 2020; since then, the number of cases has continued to grow exponentially. As of 8th of July 2020 (end of the day), 53,045 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed with a death toll of 327 cases. The UAE has conducted over 3,720,000 COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past four months, in line with the government’s plans to strengthen virus screening to contain the spread of COVID-19. There were vital UAE policies, laws, regulations, and decrees that have been announced for immediate implementation to limit the spread of COVID- 19, to prevent panic and to ensure the overall food, nutrition, and well-being are provided. The UAE is amongst the World’s Top 10 for COVID-19 Treatment Efficiency and in the World’s Top 20 for the implementation of COVID-19 Safety measures. The UAE’s mission is to work towards resuming life after COVID-19 and enter into the recovery phases. This policy research paper will discuss the Dubai Health Authority’s rapid response initiatives towards combating the control and spread of COVID-19 and future policy implications and recommendations. The underlying factors and policy options will be discussed in terms of governance, finance, and delivery.

The Final ‘Thank You’

Derrida Today ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Grant Farred
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Jacques Derrida ◽  
Political Transition ◽  
The Other ◽  
World Cup ◽  
The Core ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
Black President ◽  
The Moment

‘The Final “Thank You”’ uses the work of Jacques Derrida and Friedrich Nietzsche to think the occasion of the 1995 rugby World Cup, hosted by the newly democratic South Africa. This paper deploys Nietzsche's Zarathustra to critique how a figure such as Nelson Mandela is understood as a ‘Superman’ or an ‘Overhuman’ in the moment of political transition. The philosophical focus of the paper, however, turns on the ‘thank yous’ exchanged by the white South African rugby captain, François Pienaar, and the black president at the event of the Springbok victory. It is the value, and the proximity and negation, of the ‘thank yous’ – the relation of one to the other – that constitutes the core of the article. 1

ANALYSIS OF THE COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD STRONGEST BELT WRESTLERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
Mariya Sedunova ◽  
Liliya Konovalova
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
World Championship ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Competitive Activity ◽  
The World ◽  
The Right ◽  
Competitive Activities ◽  
Distinguishing Features

International potential and consequent greater competition in belt wrestling increase the significance of assessing quantitative and qualitative indicators of competitive activity of the strongest wrestlers in the world. It is important to identify the sport development trends and to search for effective ways and tools for achievement of the sport excellence. Purpose: to reveal the features of efficient competitive activities of the world leading wrestlers on the basis of analysis of group differences in technical and tactical excellence indicators. Materials and methods of research. We analyzed videos of 285 events with participation of 197 wrestlers competing at the Belt Wrestling World Championship 2019 in Kazan. We registered the following indicators of competitive activity: the total and average number of fighting techniques, including techniques executed to the right and to the left side within 4 minutes of combat; number and types of technical actions of competition winners among men and women. Research results and discussion. The paper focuses on the comparative analysis of technical and tactical skills of men and women, the winners of the Belt Wrestling World Championship. The research revealed distinguishing features of the winner’s technical toolkit including the diversity of technical and tactical actions, a balance in the knowledge of the right and left-handed techniques. At the same time, the analysis of technical and tactical actions in women wrestling shows the backlog of female athletes in these components of technical fitness.

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