To argue that 2021 has been a tough year for sports would be to understate the obvious. “COVID” and “injury” have been the two most used words insofar as bad news hitting the grapevine is concerned, and there is nothing to suggest that the new year figures to be better. In fact, 2022 will likely feature more of the same uncertainty that has engulfed all disciplines.
No sport has been spared. On Christmas Day, for instance, the National Basketball Association had forced absences that affected both the appeal and the competitive balance of the five matches on tap. And even as preparations for the Australian Open, the first stop in the tennis’ grand slam rota, have been shrouded in the stringency of safety protocols, notices of withdrawals are mounting.
All quarters are left scrambling in the time of Omicron. In the NBA, officials have seen fit to shorten quarantine periods for vaccinated players and staff in an effort to keep up with the turnover and maintain some semblance of roster continuity. Meanwhile, developments in tennis have highlighted the importance of mental health amid the prevalence of the unknown.
It’s a tug-of-war, really, and one that appears to be in the offing for some time to come. On one hand, increasing inoculation rates afford some semblance of hope that better things are in the offing for fans who can’t wait to see matches firsthand. On the other, virus mutations and the introduction of strains far more infectious and resistant to vaccines have raised concerns in regard to the spread of the virus. Positive test numbers are on the rise anew, and differing — even contradictory — regulations depending on jurisdiction haven’t helped. The result is a landscape in which the quality of entertainment is compromised for those who can’t wait for more.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.