What if Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Paralympics turn out to be exclusively digitized?
If we look at the current scenario for hosting a sporting event in any region of any country in any corner of the world, we will have a multi-layered structure of things to be taken care of from a healthcare point of view.
I feel the COVID-19 pandemic is the most politicized healthcare disaster to try and create a monopoly-like situation for the global economies. This is because some neighboring countries who also tend to be communist from the very core, cannot accept the fact that any other country can have a positive impact in terms of development to be an industrial powerhouse, hence it was necessary to create some distractions. Seems to be political?
Sure it does in some ways. This is based on some facts and a few fascinating things that we can think about from what happened with Rugby last year. Japan hosted the 9th edition of the Rugby World Cup in September 2019, and it was clear that they raised the bar of organizing sports events to a new level for others to catch-up. In July 2020, it was supposed to be the Olympic & Paralympic Games. Considering the history in terms of innovation, management, and advanced implementation techniques, Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics definitely would have created a new benchmark, which some of the communist countries could not digest, maybe because of the political history they may or may not have.
Additional article for reference: Rugby World Cup 2019: The commercial review by SportsPro Media.
Historic incidents do tend to help us find answers sometimes. Similarly, political agenda’s also come with a potential solution. It is just the matter of finding it within the given time frame. However, sometimes we are too busy nerve-wracking about the threats, so we kind-of ignore these potential solutions, which can help us solve a problem (in this-case COVID-19 and hosting the Tokyo Olympic & Paralympic Games). There is no doubt that the current healthcare situation has hit us hard from an economic front, but it gave us the solution in the way by digitization of our day-to-day activities. We cannot be over-dependent on the digital-form of working and this needs to be abundantly clear and understood because this too has its limitations and repercussions. I remember Michael Holding aka The Whispering Death episode from Breakfast with Champions, and he said,
If there is anything you put “over” on, it means it is too much.
But then again, is there a possibility that the Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics can take place without in-stadia spectators, and the digitization can help in concluding the games in a more controlled and relatively safer environment?
In a very general sense, we have more questions than answers for any sporting event to be hosted anytime from now, till we have a reliable and effective vaccine (which also seems politicized). It is also raising all sorts of alarms for different dimensions of sports, including the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The digital streaming platforms, OTT modernization, broadcasting innovations, the old school radio transmission might have the answer to that. Can they play a significant role in the commencement of the world's most awaited sporting event “without” the physical presence of followers/fans/super-fans or spectators?
If we try and look at the lockdown situation in many countries, anyone and everyone around the world has a dependency over video conferencing platforms, social media platforms, OTT platforms, traditional broadcasting platforms, and old school radio services now (ET Brand Equity). It can be for work, meetings, discussions, marketing & advertisement, consumption of sports, entertainment, media, news, music, or even stay connected with anyone like their friends, families, and co-workers. It caters to a need for change in business models for many organizations to sustain in the market, with all necessary precautionary measures. It even applies to us, while playing any sport on the field. So, the traditional approach in terms of broadcasting, organizing, and management might have a few twists and turns.
We know for a fact that we do not have a permanent solution for such incidents, especially for those, which are politically targeted or authority driven. But we all know what a human mind is capable of, particularly when it comes to life or death. The IOC, IPC, Tokyo Organizing Committee, Japanese Government, National Governing Bodies of each country along with the athletes, trainers, managers, sponsors, partners are working harder and harder every day to be ready for the hosting and commencement of the games which were postponed to no later than summer 2021, in a joint statement by IOC and Prime Minister of Japan on 24th Mar 2020.
But why think for an alternative? Why a Plan-B for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to be exclusively digitized?
As sports managers & organizers, we are always on the hunt for potential opportunities, but we are also on the quest to find new ways of doing things right. The motto of the Olympic Games is Citius, Altius, Fortius, which means Faster, Higher, Stronger and, we as sports management professionals we should have a motto too for "Improving, Encouraging, Challenging" ourselves to find new ways for the betterment of our Global & National Sports Ecosystem.
Now from a Plan-B conceptualization perspective, performance monitoring & management is a critical requirement. Performance Management System (PMS) is typically a Human Resource (HR) Management concept on evaluating the performance of an employee for a better judgment and to reward/appreciate it so the employees can maintain the level and intensity of the work. Surprisingly, those concepts can also be used in day-to-day activities in a sports environment, because they too have intrinsic & extrinsic characteristics of the Complexity of Human Variability (CHV).
We eventually learned from the best at Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences (SSSS), including Col. Sunil Brijkrishan. In a very uncomplicated yet stimulating way, we learned the art of solving a problem (big or small). Here is how Col. Sunil taught us to approach and try to solve a problem.
With some recent developments in Sports Technology from a fan engagement perspective, Yamaha Corporation is testing an app that would let sports fans pipe virtual 'cheers' into empty stadiums. It would prove to be beneficial, as different dimensions of sport are planning to resume with few or no fans in the stands (cnbc.com). We have already witnessed 2-test matches b/w England & West Indies recently with no spectators in a bio-secure environment. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality have already proven to be a significant development for the Sports Industry in many countries, allowing the fans to have a stadium like experience sitting on their couches with their friends and families.
From the Olympic and Paralympic Games point of view, "it is a bright piece of news" that despite businesses being hit-hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic, new sponsors are coming in as confirmed by Tokyo Organizing Committee - CEO Toshiro Muto in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday. He said,
I know that businesses are in dire circumstances because of coronavirus but still there are companies who are coming forward to say they want to sponsor the Games, which we appreciate very much.
As the situation develops, we will have more clarity on hosting regional, national, and international sporting events in the coming months. If athletes, coaches, and the support staff are preparing to get back on the field, in some ways is a psychological boost for every fan/follower. The preparation to get back in general means that everything is all set to get back on the tracks, not just for the athletes but for a common individual, and the economy as well.
Life of a normal human being connects with that preparation, willingness, and eagerness, and it seems to be geared up and ready to break the barriers and set up a new world record for generations to come.
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