Sports
Pass the torch, with gloves, please!
-Zoya Gupta
One of the most significant sporting events in the calendar, the Olympics witnessed massive participation at a global level across various sports. This prestigious event happens every once in four years, and this year it was scheduled to be hosted in Japan, from 23 July to 8 August. The world has changed since January 2020, with all countries worldwide battling against the pandemic. Most countries are under lockdown, which means that their athletes are going through a tough phase here. Due to this pandemic getting worse day by day, the Japanese government had announced that the best decision to take was to postpone the Olympics to 2021.
The clever logo designed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which unfortunately would not be of much use in 2021.
Source: Creative Bloq
Before COVID-19 had struck, Japan had put in a lot of effort to get prepared for the Olympics. But as the virus began to wreak havoc, and started to spread at an expeditious rate, countries initiated extreme measures. These lockdowns have made it very hard for athletes across the globe to train, especially for team sports. Travel restrictions make it almost impossible for large scale events to take place at this time. On a positive note, Japanese officials have said that the delayed Olympics will be a chance to showcase the world’s triumph over COVID-19. Many people had plans to travel to Japan this summer to witness the Olympics, and this decision would have led to a lot of fans being disappointed, and many people couldn’t get all their money back. The host country has also taken an assertive stand to state that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will be canceled if the COVID-19 pandemic is not brought under control by next year, as Japan’s President said that no further postponement was possible.
Many people were extremely excited and looking forward to the Olympics this year, as this event only happens every four years; the product of endless determination, training, and anticipation. An important time for athletes, as the world’s eyes focus on one thing, and one thing only: The Olympics. Japan knew that to reschedule the Olympics would be a challenge as there are 33 sports on the program for the Olympic Games. Within these sports, there were about 340 separate events taking place across 42 venues. As it would be quite challenging to make sure all these venues will be free once again.
The pandemic has had a profound impact on just the way we live, not just sports. Many people have had to adapt to many new lifestyles, and Japan has put in a lot of effort to figure out what could be in the best interest of the Olympics. Fans were waiting for the Olympics this year, but for our benefit, the postponement was the only possibility. COVID-19 has made us take hard decisions, but we can only move forward with resilience, and hope that we will be promised the Olympics next year.
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No more hoops
- naila puri
The National Basketball Association, also known as NBA, is one of the most known men’s basketball leagues in the world, held in North America. The season in 2019-2020 almost did happen but it was stopped. They did manage to get one game in February. However, a basketball player named Ruby Gobert from Utah Jazz tested positive for the Coronavirus and the game between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was canceled. Shortly after, they decided to suspend the games completely to keep the players safe.
Steph Curry and Harden taking shots.
Source: Business Insider, Pintrest
The NBA was in fact, the first sports league to suspend their games as the coronavirus is spreading rapidly. The coronavirus also impacts a lot of the teams’ reputation. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers were facing a reputation problem as they had lost to two teams- the Milwaukee Bucks, the LA Clippers. However, just before the hiatus, they managed to avenge their losses by winning 13 of their past 16 games. So it sort of looks like they might have to try to get back into the winning rhythm they were starting. There are a lot of other examples of the teams working very hard to get to the season and had a good rhythm going of winning and have it all thrown away by the games being suspended until 2021.
This long suspension is also affecting the NBA financially. All of the players’ salary was definitely cancelled, not postponed because teams’ salaries mostly rely on jerseys, TV rights and tickets. With that all gone, weeks of no money could affect future salary caps. For an all mighty, highly paid star like LeBron James, he would be on the hook for $400,000 per game. There really wasn’t an easy way to put that the players were going to be cut pretty short of their salary. If you could split the money evenly with the money they had for simplicity’s sake, the players could easily be behind on $600 million.
How long would it take for the NBA to go back to normal? Truth is no one really knows. If Covid-19 has cancelled this season and could possibly delay the next one, it could affect the NBA for quite a long time. If the next season is delayed, there could be another revenue shortfall and business would take even more time to go back to normal.
Of course, this all pales into comparison with what is also happening in the world right now. The NBA will return in time and we all must be patient as they are just doing this to keep everyone safe.
22 yards looking unlikely in india
- devansh Mishra
Switching on the TV during the summer break in the evening, only to see Chris Gayle blasting cricket balls into the stands or Dale Steyn destroying the stumps behind the batsmen is a bliss that cannot be replaced by anything else. The assumption that happens in every single Indian household every summer evening of a nail-biting match is one of the things that make up the IPL. Standing behind RCB every season, confidently boasting about the strength of the team, only to be let down during the matches when it is languishing at the bottom brings a mixed bag of emotions. That joy of seeing an unnatural display of talent on one’s TV every evening was taken away from cricket fans all around the world this year with the chances of IPL looking bleak, and there’s nothing more annoying for sports fans than that.
This year’s IPL was supposed to be a tremendous opportunity for youngsters who impressed greatly in the U19 Cricket World Cup. Young guns like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, and skipper Priyam Garg were raring to go onto the stadium in the colours of the Royals, Kings XI and Sunrisers respectively, to showcase their talent and stamp their authority on the world stage. U19 stars from a few years ago, Prithvi Shaw and Shubhman Gill also needed this chance to propel them into the senior national team.
Another set of people who have desperately wanted for the IPL to happen this year - those who were in the mix, but just needed that push to get into the Indian side. Suryakumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, and Krunal Pandya top that list, needing those opportunities to perform to force the selectors to take a look at them. There were also those people who wanted to warn selectors that ‘they still exist’. Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were desperate to get into their side to deliver their best and show everyone that they shouldn’t be forgotten while picking the national team.
Dhoni’s boisterous helicopter shot and Kohli’s elegant drive - A sight we might not be able to see this year.
Source: Laughing Colours, IPLT20
The most significant question mark of the IPL was the great comeback of the veteran, MS Dhoni. The man who achieved India’s dream of winning the 2011 World Cup had one last chance at cricket in this year’s IPL. Playing for the Yellow Army gives not only him but the entire world of cricket immense joy. Retreating to military life after India’s loss against New Zealand in the world cup last year, MS Dhoni was set to make a stellar comeback in the IPL this year. Unfortunately, rumours have it that he may have taken a quiet retirement and we may never get to see the man on the cricket ground with that iconic Spartan bat, again.
Being a diehard RCBian, missing the chance to look at Virat Kohli’s exemplary cover drive or AB De Villiers’ unorthodox spectacle was a significant loss. Even the ‘Dre Russ’ showcase and Rabada’s gruelling yorkers were major misses. The amusing jokes of ‘RCB being a great team because they didn’t lose even one match this year’ makes me want RCB to beat CSK bad this year, assuming the event happens.
IPL chances are looking quite grim, but being optimistic is the only thing we can do. Talks are underway to plan the IPL in the October-November window, which is only possible by postponing the T20 World Cup in Australia. UAE has also offered to host the IPL in Dubai, but expectations are that the BCCI will reject them as they did with the Sri Lankan offer. The adrenaline rush, which comes late at night is irreplaceable. Switching on the TV at eight consistently every night, confidently assuming a thrilling game that night becomes almost a ritual. The extraordinary atmosphere at the stadium and the little hum that leaks out of the stands will be something that we will lose out. Missing this opportunity will be a bummer to both the players and the fans this year.