A Systematic Review of the Impact of COVID-19 on Global Sporting Events in 2020: The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics

The Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), like no other pandemic has taken the world by storm, affecting all and any spheres of life. This effect has also impacted global sporting events such as the 2020 Summer Olympics that were scheduled for the 24th of July 2020 to the 9th of July 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. Historically, the Summer Olympics have been cancelled 3 times due to war but the postponement that occurred in 2020 is unprecedented. The socio-economic implications are still yet to be fully explored and realised. The purpose of this research is to therefore examine the impact of COVID-19 on the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. The study will adopt a systematic literature review of material on the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to sporting events and statistical inferences will be conducted based on publicly accessible secondary data sources. Considering that the pandemic is still an ongoing phenomenon the findings and analysis cannot be conclusive, a snapshot based on current data and scientific predictions will be provided on what COVID-19 meant to global sporting events. A broad analysis of the pandemic’s impact on sport will be provided despite the focus being on the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Last, this study serves as a template for further research on COVID-19’s impact on sporting events in general, preferably studies conducted post the pandemic for reflection purposes based on more conclusive data.

Testing the visual-motor coordination and reaction speed in children aged between 10–14 years old

The present study aimed to debate a topic less addressed by most people, which involved research on a group of 20 students from rural areas, aged 10–14 years, which consists of performing two tests, namely the Ruler drop test and the Hand-eye coordination test, which aims at the reaction speed of the dominant and non-dominant hand and also the hand-eye coordination capacity of the subjects. The paper aimed to identify whether somatic factors and age influence the results of the group. In order to perform the two tests, it was necessary, for the beginning, information related to the study group, information on weight, age, height, dominant hand, respectively dominant eye. These represented the point of interest of the research, being reported individually to the test results, thus constituting the study basis of statistics. After obtaining the results, we concluded that a significant significance is encountered when comparing the dominant hand with the non-dominant one, obtaining a positive value for the dominant hand. At the same time, we interpreted after the research that females tend to have a much faster reaction speed, more significant than the males when it comes to using the non-dominant hand. The hypothesis was confirmed, with differences in somatic factors’ influence, but the others do not show significant values except those stated above. In addition to the practical part, the research involves an interesting theoretical foundation being reached aspects related to proprioception, coordination, speed, ways of using tests, and the opinion of other researchers who have conducted similar studies.

Fundamentals of beach volleyball blocking actions

Beach volleyball is spectacular with many rapid actions, agility moves, and high jumping. One of the key elements present in high-performance beach volleyball, having a decisive role in the defensive apparatus, is the blocking movements. This action is done mainly by the tallest player or with the most considerable jumping ability. A high blocking ability can facilitate the defensive movement of the player that is positioned in the back of the court. Blocking ability is facilitated by anticipation capacity, good sight, agility movement, and high jumping ability generated by solid legs. This paper analyses the fundamentals of blocking actions in beach volleyball, giving critical elements in executing a good and efficient block.

Amateur football map (4th league) from Romania generated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the pre-pandemic season (2019/2020)

After the 2nd World War, for the first time after 7 decades, sports in general, and amateur football in particular, are facing a new global challenge generated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Pre-pandemic football season 2019/2020 held on the field only for the first part (690 teams; 781 games), was suspended at the beginning of March, 2020. This situation generated an uncertain 5-month break until the first official games in play-offs (1-9 August, 2020) in wich only 46 teams (6.6%) in total actually participated. In a state of global uncertainty, to the suggestion of RFF, the 42 county football associations were “invited” to identify new solutions in order to “finalize the season”, by declaring, or not, a champion team, another team for the national phase of Romania’s Cup and a county representative for the 3rd league play-off. With the help of statistical information provided by county structures, with the spatial analysis of statistical data reported and analyzed on local and regional level, were analyzed the created situations and, especially, the consequences generated by the pandemic situation upon amateur football in Romania illustrated by maps.

Amateur football map (4th league) from Romania generated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the pre-pandemic season (2019/2020)

After the 2nd World War, for the first time after 7 decades, sports in general, and amateur football in particular, are facing a new global challenge generated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Pre-pandemic football season 2019/2020 held on the field only for the first part (690 teams; 781 games), was suspended at the beginning of March, 2020. This situation generated an uncertain 5-month break until the first official games in play-offs (1-9 August, 2020) in wich only 46 teams (6.6%) in total actually participated. In a state of global uncertainty, to the suggestion of RFF, the 42 county football associations were “invited” to identify new solutions in order to “finalize the season”, by declaring, or not, a champion team, another team for the national phase of Romania’s Cup and a county representative for the 3rd league play-off. With the help of statistical information provided by county structures, with the spatial analysis of statistical data reported and analyzed on local and regional level, were analyzed the created situations and, especially, the consequences generated by the pandemic situation upon amateur football in Romania illustrated by maps.

The Effect of Pilates Stable Device with Instability Device Using the Circuit Training Method on Balance, Flexibility, and Abdominal Muscle Strength

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of a stable device with an instability device using circuit training method on balance, flexibility, abdominal muscle strength. This research used quasi-experimental design by giving exercises aided instability devices using a gym ball with a circuit training method in six training posts. Trainer used the gym ball instability devices programmed: 1) bridge on stability ball, 2) single leg on stability ball, 3) hip lift on stability ball, 4)single-leg hip lift on stability ball, 5) stability ball leg rotations stability ball leg rotations 6) prone scaption (Y) on stability ball. Total population is 90 male students, age ± 19 years, height ± 164.40 cm, and body weight ± 55.33kg. From the test of each group (paired sample), it was found that there was a significant difference between pretest and posttest on the variable group of stable devices with instability devices (p-value> 0.05), while the control group did not have any difference (p-value <0.05). Meanwhile, ANOVA test results obtained only the average value of the balance variable in the instability device group using gym ball with control (p-value 0.002 <0.05), the stable device using a mattress and control (p-value 0.000 <0.05), the flexibility group of the stable devices using a control mattress (p-value 0.001 <0.05), the abdominal muscle strength device instability using a gym ball with a control (p-value 0.007 <0.05 <0.05) which has a difference.

Understanding the importance of service in the beach volleyball game

Beach volleyball is a practical sports game practiced both by the high-performance athlete and the great mass of lovers of movement, for recreational purposes, of lousier. In recent years, an increasing number of participants and tournaments have led to several studies on beach volleyball. Beach volleyball is divided into two phases: defense and counterattack. The sequence of beach volleyball actions is service, taking over, lifting, attacking, blocking, and diving. The defense phase includes: taking over, lifting, and attacking. Counterattack includes: blocking, defending, lifting, and attacking. This research tries to identify beach volleyball's fundamental characteristics and highlights the main ideas regarding this critical skill in beach volleyball. This technical procedure was and will be one of the most important in the volleyball game - both beach and indoor. Beach volleyball service is a specific motor skill commonly described as the first element of defense, essential to prevent a team from getting the side-out.

The Urban Legacy Impacts of Mega-Event Stadia: Selected Case Studies from South Africa

This study considered the urban infrastructure legacy impacts of mega-events in the Global South with a specific focus on South Africa’s 2010 stadia. By way of multiple case studies, undertaken in 2010 FIFA World Cup stadia in host cities Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, and applying a mixed-method approach, n=1120 urban residents living within a 2-km radius were surveyed in addition to interviews with key resource persons. The empirical findings indicate the existence of significant statistical differences in the perceptions of the urban residents and other stakeholder groups regarding the sustainability precepts that accompany the construction of stadia associated with the long-term urban infrastructure legacy implications. While the urban residents and the key resource persons agreed that the stadia had the potential to attract positive urban infrastructure legacy outcomes to their communities, one of the critical observations noted was the agreement that the costs associated with the maintenance and operations of these stadia were currently enormous, posing significant sustainability challenges and contentions. The study provides fresh insights into long-term mega-event urban infrastructure legacy impact assessment from a developing country perspective with innovative planning and strategy implications.

Sport and tourism facing the covid-19 pandemic

The present study focuses on understanding the current research on the sports and tourism facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of the contemporary literature is considered to identify and classify research that focuses on the sports and tourism industries in the time of Covid-19. The primary purpose of review was to identify and analyze the findings of relevant studies that are addressing defined research question. Restrictions imposed on the spread of the virus have affected all aspects of human life, including sports and tourism. As a result of the pandemic, we have severely restricted travel, canceled sports events, empty hotels, closed theaters, restaurants, cafes, and bars. That has had devastating consequences for the sports and tourism industries. Above limitations have made two things lucid - the desire of people to get out of the house and have the opportunity to travel beyond their daily movement, and recognition that physical activity and the ability to watch sports event, are a significant factor in supporting and ensuring the wellbeing of the people. These concepts are discussed in detail. Also, the matter of promoting electric scooters as an alternative to vehicles for urban mobility is discussed. The study proposes that at this early stage, while the pandemic is not yet about to recede, as evidenced by the current state of the world, it is too early to draw any far-reaching conclusions. But in this context, some basic concepts formed for further analysis of the issue. Undoubtedly, life after the pandemic will be quite different, and it is time for tourism and sports policymakers and organizers to start preparing for that.

Aspects Regarding Geographic and Spatial Dispersion Determined by Romanian National Men’s Basketball League (2006-2019)

This article intends to analyze the men’s basketball phenomenon in Romania, at the level of the Romanian National Basketball League (the elite league in Romanian Men’s Basketball). In the first part of this article we will analyze the numeric indicators resulted from the mathematical quantifiers of the participation of men’s basketball teams in the National Basketball League. In the second part we will highlight aspects of geographic and spatial dispersion by using mathematical methods (such as the Euclidean distances). Furthermore, we will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the geographic location of men’s basketball teams from Romania.