Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 130, May 2020 | Page 28

Two Oceans Marathon
events will clearly cripple the administration of the sport, so when people call for
cancellation of events, it is important to appreciate the depth of impact on the sport.
Powering Local Economies
Another aspect of sport that impacts on the country is the commercial spend
directly associated with events, by the spectators, participants and suppliers.
Airfares, car hire, petrol, hotels, meals, tourism activities, and purchase of gifts and
memorabilia all have a positive impact on an area hosting an event.
For example, about six years ago I did a very basic economic impact study for the
small Schoemansville community committee around the Om Die Dam Ultra, and
the guesstimate from Friday to Sunday was an impact of R30 million. A formal,
more detailed impact study could have been up to three times that figure. The
commercial impact of the 2019 Comrades is said to have been around R700
Million, with over 600 jobs created during the build-up and in race week itself.
COVID-19 has shattered businesses in every sphere of society, particularly the
tourist and sports industry, and the additional loss of this sort of income and jobs
is massive, if the event does not take place. The same is true for the Two Oceans
Marathon, 94.7 Cycle Tour and Ironman SA Champs, and others. In other words,
people simply discarding a prestige sport event as unimportant are failing to look
beyond the obvious.
Counting the Costs
Judging by all the expert opinions on social media, there is belief that the easy
way out of the COVID-19 sports scenario is the cancellation of events, and if it’s
done some four to six months in advance, then refunds should be the natural
order of the day. Hopefully the reason events cannot undertake refunds has been
addressed above, but cancellation of the major events is beginning to look like the
sucker punch that will, not simply leave the sport winded, but leave it sprawled on
the canvas!
in treatment, and the big positive is that all new information comes on top of
experience gained over the past four months. We are moving forward every day,
and thus we will hopefully be able to get back to running events in the not too
distant future!
A possible first step will be events that are open to South African residents
only. Germany’s approach of a number limit could well be another staged
process towards the new norm. Certainly, there will be new guidelines and
recommendations coming on the entry, pre-race and race day processes. These
are already being formulated on a global level and by forward-thinking events
around the world.
At some stage, local authorities and disaster management officials will be required
to set standards based on best practice, but what works in India, Germany, USA
and South Africa will vary considerably. There are already many people involved
in these processes, and I am optimistic that we will see the recommencement of
some international events, with controllable numbers, by September, and larger
participation by November or December.
Locally, we need another month to get a feel of the impact resulting from a
relaxation in lockdown, but already it would seem there could be a review of
the infection peak dates. This may see a new format of club runs and time
trials allowed by August or September. Events such as SA Champs, with their
controllable entries, may be introduced by late September/October, and bigger
events thereafter… but only time and information will tell.
For now, let’s continue the postponements, planning, preparation and positive
outlook. No-one gives up on a sick COVID-19 patient, and so too, we need to be
willing to try anything and everything in our sport!
Two Oceans Marathon
As I have explained, a cancellation of Two Oceans, Comrades and other prestigious
events has major impact on several levels.
• The event loses out, and unless it has substantial reserve assets, could
easily be unable to make it through to another year.
• The National Federation loses out on its two major sources of income: The
TV broadcast does not happen, so the rights fees fall away, and if events are
continued to be banned outright, will the license number branding be claimed
back, as there was not the agreed exposure?
• The Provincial structure loses out on entry fee and licence incomes.
• The local community lose out, with no visitors, no spend, and no job
creation.
Generally, it should be obvious that calls for cancellation in sport are short-sighted,
reckless, irresponsible and ill-thought through. Such calls need to be the last resort,
and therefore should be left until the last possible time. Of course, it is important
to keep everyone well informed of the strategy being adopted, but early, overeager
or even lazy decision-making should have no place at this time. What is required is
flexibility, planning and visionary thinking, which can be evolved as the goal posts
and understanding of the ever-evolving situation changes.
The Post-COVID Future
Nationally, some authorities have predicted a COVID-19 infection peak in South
Africa around September. Each day brings the hope of medical progression
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Norrie represented Scotland and Great Britain in
numerous ultra-distance events, then emigrated and represented South Africa in
triathlon. He is an IAAF-accredited coach and course measurer, and travels all over
the world to work on events, including the Olympics. He has authored two books
(Everyman’s Guide to Distance Running and Every Beginner’s Guide to Walking
& Running), and counts 21 Comrades medals amongst his more than 150 ultramarathon
medals. You can read more from him at www.coachnorrie.co.za.
Images: Roger Sedres/ImageSA & Tobias Ginsberg
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ISSUE 130 MAY 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za