Sport Matters continues to navigate a path forward through the COVID-19 pandemic as we take stock almost one year after the global coronavirus pandemic was declared.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every corner of the globe and every aspect of people‘s lives.
With the guidance and support of our board, Sport Matters has been able to continue much of our work despite the international travel restrictions. Many activities planned for 2020 could not go ahead due to COVID-19 restrictions and those that were postponed will re-appear in our calendars at the next available opportunity. While working from home has been challenging and physically isolating, it has also enabled us to be flexible and more available to connect online with our own team spread across Australia and the Pacific, and also with international partners as more and more business is conducted online.
In Australia, Sport Matters has been well-informed and supported by the staff and member agencies of the Australian Council for International Development. Through the early lock-down periods in Australia, the weekly and then fortnightly zoom meetings with agency heads was an important platform for the Australian NGO sector to come together and capitalise on our shared strengths, resilience and passion for serving our humanitarian and development partners in developing nations around the world. ACFID’s activities in response to COVID-19 have had a strong focus on ensuring staff wellbeing, business continuity and member’s sustainability.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world of sport to a stand-still. Empty playing fields, empty pools, empty stadiums, empty school playgrounds, empty gyms and empty community grounds. The pandemic reduced opportunities for people to stay active, limited social interaction through sport and physical activity, and affected the livelihoods of those employed in the sport and fitness sector
Australian state and local sporting organisations were informed and guided by government advice and regulations and a Return to Sport toolkit with practical resources giving sporting organisations a roadmap for the safest return to sport at all levels.
At the international level, COVID-19 has sparked new partnerships such as the collaboration between the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations to encourage individuals and communities around the world to be “Healthy Together”. The partnership was launched on Olympic Day, 23 June 2020 with Olympic athletes delivering important public health information to inspire healthy behaviours and promote physical and mental health.
As many communities and countries are still battling with COVID-19 we extend our arms and our thoughts and prayers to our partners, colleagues and friends around the world and look forward working together step-by-step as we all navigate the new post-COVID world.
For further information on Sport and the Impact of COVID-19 visit: Commonwealth Secretariat Sport and the Coronavirus – Policies and Guidelines