2020: a nightmare for sports

2020 is a year to forget for many sectors of human activity, but in particular, for sport. Let's look at some of the different reasons why sports activity suffered in 2020.

Sport, besieged by the coronavirus

Perhaps the most destructive factor for sports activity this year was the coronavirus. The inability to be close to other people was devastating for the vast majority of sports, particularly team sports (which are the most popular). Images of empty stadiums and championship finals without fans went around the world throughout the year. Some organizations were quick and strict in acting (readers will remember the NBA's first “bubble”, which able the season to finish without a single contagion) while others took their time, but in the end, at least, the sports come back.

Kobe Bryant died

Before the coronavirus stopped all competitions, the news that broke the hearts of sports fans around the world was the Kobe Bryant's death. Considered a candidate to be the best basketball player of all time, Bryant died on January 26 at the age of 41 in a helicopter accident along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna . The news was a bitter appetizer, making the victory for the Lakers, their longtime team, in this year's NBA Finals bittersweet.

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Maradona died

Bryant, however, would not be the only great to pass away this year. November 25, 2020 will be a date that all football fans will remember with sadness in the future , that day the greatest of all time passed away. Maradona's death was news that literally mourned Argentines for days and was felt in the hearts of fans around the world. It will be many years before a cult figure like him re-emerges in international sport.

Olympics canceled

It is difficult to remember that, had it not been for the virus, this year we would have held the Olympics in Japan. It is even more devastating to realize that many international athletes lost what could have been their last window to compete for causes beyond their control. The Olympics were canceled on March 24, after the International Olympic Committee decided that the health of the Japanese and the athletes was more important than the competition. Even though there is already a prospective date for its resumption next year, July 23, most Japanese, according to the JapanTimes, are still opposed to the games being held .

Let's hope that next year the threat of the pandemic has abated, and we can return to the fields and stadiums safely.