We are not all in the same boat. We are in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar.’ How COVID-19 exaggerated global inequities in professional sport

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 57; no. 4; pp. 191 - 192
• Main Authors: Mkumbuzi, Nonhlanhla Sharon, Zondi, Phathokuhle Cele, Owoeye, Oluwatoyosi B A, Thornton, Jane S, Kemp, Joanne, Drezner, Jonathan A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.02.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Athletes; Coaches & managers; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Editorial; Funding; Humans; Medical screening; Mental health; Pandemics; Public health; Sports; Sports medicine; Womens sports; South Africa; Covid-19; Sports; Sports medicine
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106048

At the onset of the pandemic, as many were forced to stay from their workplaces, athletes were encouraged to train from home. Communication with coaches, trainers and healthcare providers was remote and required online programmes, home equipment and telehealth resources. In South Africa, like other industries,1 those professional athletes who earned high incomes before the pandemic managed better than their lower earning peers. Home training adaptations require space, equipment, access to internet connectivity and other technologies, which meant training had to stop completely for those who lacked these resources, while it could continue for their higher income counterparts.2 This cool-off period during lockdown compromised all aspects of effective training and periodisation, and lower ranked or marginalised athletes with less resources were further disadvantaged.2 Less than 40% of athletes could fully perform their training programmes,2 3 and coaches, even in high-income countries (HIC), had difficulties engaging athletes in online training because of lack of access and ability to use relevant technologies.4 The reduced training load imposed on these athletes may have long-term impacts on injury risk, performance, rankings and remuneration in years to come.