SPORTING life is in a bit of a dilemma just now with the recent cancellation of many of our iconic events.
We continue to hear of even more cancellations on a daily basis due to the possible impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus, and this is something which we will all have to accept.
However one thing that sporting organisations may find impossible to do is to accommodate these cancelled events at a later stage in the year and this must be extremely worrying for a several sports.
With many working on a May/June end of season, there will be little time left to get everything re-arranged and allow for a fresh season to commence with new autumn intakes.
And of course, the other side of the coin is no matter the size of your organisation, there will always be a cost involved in hosting an event and the long-term impact on some could be devastating.
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Across the world many sports have taken the decision to cancel their events, motor racing, basketball, football, etc.
This silent and invisible threat is basically bringing the world as we know it to a halt. The uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus means that planning for future events is also in jeopardy as we have no way to accurately predict when this crisis will be over.
It has been quite confusing for a while.
Experts are telling us that hand-washing is essential and that our normal greeting of shaking hands, or if we are feeling at all European, kissing on the cheek has to be replaced with a fist or elbow bump.
All good and well and most people are following all the advice that is being given out, however where that breaks down is that if you then go on to play your sport and you are in the middle of a rugby scrum, on the mat with your judo partner or sitting in a crowded bus on your way to participate in your chosen sport, so you then begin to understand the need for sport to take a back seat for a short while.
With no crystal ball at the ready, it is anyone’s guess as to how long this will last and what the long-term impact will be.
Big decisions have to be made here and there is so much to be taken into consideration and time, of course, is of the essence.
Maureen McGonigle is the founder of Scottish Women in Sport
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