We could never have imagined what 2020 would have turned out like, even as we undertook the year twelve months ago. What’s that they say about making God laugh by telling him your plans?
Anyway, as we gird our loins and prepare for 2021 to unfold we are still working under the dark shadow of the virus. It will continue to impact on every aspect of our lives, work and the world of sport but there is hope on the horizon with a vaccine being rolled out. Will it be seamlessly efficient and remain as effective as we hope in the face of a mutating virus?
Let’s do what we can to plan with the best of intentions, and keep our fingers crossed.
On January 21st we will look at a number of these key events in detail with our popular Sporting Year Ahead event taking place online with a great line up of speakers and themes. Sport for Business members can reserve their place today.
This is far from an exhaustive list but will hopefully provide some food for thought…
A The Aviva Stadium and getting fans back inside is key to the financial futures of the IRFU and the FAI. Will we emerge in time to get games played in front of enough supporters?
B Broadcasting, whether through our national free to air channels, paid subscription TV, on radio, podcasting, or through online streaming, was and will remain our primary window on the world of sport. Our weekly Media Matters column on Wednesday’s will continue to bring together all the news from Ireland and around the world that is relevant in this important space.
C Covid-19. We barely knew about it this time last year. It will remain the key determinant of our sporting futures over the next twelve months. We just have to hope that once it is beaten it doesn’t have a cousin lurking behind it.
D Diversity will be a key trend of 2021 as sport resets again. The impact of Black Lives Matter and the changing position of peaceful protest will allow for different voices come to the fore. Sport itself is diverse, we need to ensure that everyone regardless of physical capacity, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation feels welcome to play their part.
E is for Euro 2020, taking place in 2021 and coming to Dublin for four games in June and July. No Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland unfortunately but we will have games involving Poland, Sweden and Slovakia as well as a Round of 16 game that could be England against Germany, Portugal or France.
F is for Fans. We have moved into a digital area and grown more comfortable with watching through screens against a backdrop of empty stands. How quickly will we be comfortable in walking back through turnstiles?
G is for Government. Ministers Martin and Chambers have been great so far in securing funding and driving on the key areas of the National Sports Policy. We need them to stand strong in the face of what will likely be increasing pressure on public spending.
H Health is now more than ever in our minds as important. Sport has a key role to play in that whether through organised field sports, walking, swimming, running or the myriad other opportunities to move. The Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies will need to be mindful that there is now a greater demand and someone will satisfy it, why not them.
I Indoor sport and activities have been particularly hard hit. Some made a partial return in the autumn and will as the level of lockdown recedes but whatever participation bounce that outdoor activity gained through the months has passed by the world of indoor sporting activity. It will need additional help and support.
J Mount Juliet is back for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, just two weeks before the Open Championship in July. The prize money has not fully recovered but it has bounced back in the right direction and we can hope for a strong field
K Stephen Kenny could not have had a tougher baptism. From so close against Slovakia to so battered throughout nine games without a goal. The World Cup qualifying starting in March provides an opportunity for a restart.
L Louth hit the headlines when they appointed Mickey Harte as their Football manager after he parted company with Tyrone. What chance a Micko / Paudie style bounce in fortunes for the wee county when games recommence?
M Larry McCarthy will become President of the GAA this year, the first representative from new York to hold the position. He will have big shoes to fill in John Horan’s but will rise to the challenge. We wish him and all those coming to positions of authority in the next twelve months the very best of luck.
N Northern Ireland is part of so many of our island of Ireland sporting bodies. In it’s 100th year this will be a key initial few months as any misalignment on Covid protocols will carry risks, and then in the longer term, how things settle down now that it is outside of the European Union. We will remain friends, but things may yet be getting more and more different.
O The Olympic and Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place one year later than planned across July, August and September. There are no plans for a second postponement so will likely take place in some shape or format. Fingers crossed it will allow for the fulfilment of so many Irish sporting dreams.
P A series of Sport for Business Podcasts will come to life in 2021, including keynote interviews with those across the sector that are key to its future both here in Ireland and around the world.
Q The Sport for Business Super Quiz provided light relief and a bit of friendly competition last year. We are bringing it back and Teneo are already in training to defend their crown.
R The Ryder Cup gave way to the Irish Open last year. Will the vaccine we widely enough distributed to make it a runner in front of fans in September, now that it is back to an odd number cycle since the last disruption of 9/11 in 2001.
S The highlighting of Sport for Social Good, in partnership with Allianz, was an online winner for us in December and we have already started to scan the industry for ways we can highlight the real and important impact of sport and business combined within our communities.
T Our Thirty under Thirty will return in March looking to identify those future leaders within the business of sport that have already begun to make a significant mark.
U Underage sport has taken a hit. Training continued through June to November in field sports, outdoors and in a non-contact environment, but without matches. We need to ensure that the next generations retain their love of competition and stick with sport even if the end game stops at friendship and activity for the moment.
V Volunteers. Arguably the Sporting Awards of the Year should have all gone to this group of individuals who did not lie down. They engaged with their communities delivering vital services when needed. They stepped up as Covid supervisors and took on the responsibility to keep sport open. They will be asked to go again, and again, and they will do it.
W Women‘s role in the playing, administration and promotion of sport is at an all-time high but we are now moving beyond the 20×20 campaign so it will be important to maintain momentum. We will continue to work towards the goal of long term genuine equality and our Annual List of 50 Influential Women with Liberty Insurance will return in the autumn with another 30 per cent refresh of those we highlight. We are also working on the revival of our Annual Women in Sport Conference in March.
X The X-Games in Aspen at the end of the month promise much by way of new immersive experiences and ways in which we engage with sport. It will be worth a look.
Y Youth has taken a battering through the pandemic, as much due to the lockdown of society as the virus. We need to be mindful that young people are our future and we will be taking special interest through this year in the way in which schools, third level institutions and sport look to ensure that sport and wellbeing remain high on the agenda.
Z Zoom entered our business lives with a bang in 2020 and the idea of remote working and hybrid online events has changed the way that networking is undertaken. We hope for a return to meeting in person but for a large part of the year, we need to stick with Zoom and make it work.
Sport for Business Partners
