depression and diminished mental health . Some sports associations have been reaching out and offering contingency plans to mitigate the lack of playing time and lack of a regular income .
On resumption of most sports disciplines , the reverse will happen where athletes will need to be at peak performance . This may lead to substance use to reduce the risk of injury or mask the injuries attained . What price will athletes be willing to pay to keep up with these expectations ?
Sports-associated Crimes continue
Many a country in the world are still grappling with the rise in illegal betting and gambling . This is the case in Kenya where the government and regulators are trying to figure out ways of reducing the impact of betting on the youth and general populace .
It is still a challenge too given the diminished income levels of your average sports fan due to the economic contraction brought about by the pandemic in its wake . Betting still looks lucrative and easy access to mobile loan facilities has seen ballooning debt at individual and family levels .
Related to sports too is the rise of human trafficking around the world . The International Labor Organization ( ILO ) estimates the forced labor and human trafficking acts to be a $ 150 billion industry . The main targets are major sports events such as the Olympics and World Cup , where athletes are forced to defect , as well as unreported kidnappings and ransom cases .
Young people especially from less developed countries dream of pursuing a career in sport . This makes them prime targets for fraudulent and fake agents who usually pry on them persuading them to leave their homes in pursuit of the lifelong dream of playing in Europe or the Americas .
The athletes are issued with short-term tourists ’ visas and once they land in the prospective countries , they hand over their monies to the sham agents often leaving them with no income , resources or social connections . The dilemma now becomes how do they provide for themselves ; how do they make the prospective leagues in search for playing time to provide for their families back home and finally how do they become legal citizens in their adopted countries ?
While the pandemic has seen restrictions in movement and country lockdowns , the trade continues undetected under the radar of government agencies of these countries at the ports , airports and other points of entry .
It is our hope that 2021 will give us an opportunity to grow sports in its different forms and spheres . However , this will only be possible if the challenges in financing , media and technology as well as the human element are constantly reviewed and updated to maintain order and prosperity for all and sundry . Goodbye 2020 , hallo 2021 !
Richard Wanjohi is a marketing enthusiast with interest in research and sports . You can commune with him on this or related matters via mail at : RWanjohi @ gmail . com or check his tweets @ rwanjohi .