Intersection of health protection policy and sport during COVID-19: identifying and analyzing behavioral issues

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This article explores the intersection of public health protection policy and sports. It reviews the strategic responses to restarting sports after the disruption of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach:

The author explores interdisciplinary work between public health, health protection policy and the sports sector. In addition, the author examines strategies to restart sport during COVID-19.

Findings:

This research highlights balancing the health protection policy and the integrity of sports, the ability to implement certain strategies strongly influenced the acceptance of the resumption of the sport in a phased approach during COVID-19 period. Further, objective medical information is key to informing the process.

Practical implications:

This research will offer guidance to policy makers in the sport sector as they need to resolve challenges with solutions that are in alignment with evolving public health policies.

Social implications:

The changing landscape of sports has had a far-reaching social impact on how it's going to be administered and viewed in the future.

Originality/value:

This paper adds value to the discourse on interdisciplinary work between health protection policies and sport; with a specific focus of reviewing the strategic responses to restarting sport in a global pandemic like COVID-19.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategy
• sport
• COVID-19
• health policy
• behavior

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).