Resumption of sports events last week has lifted the gloom for fans the world over. Football, tennis and rugby are the high profile sports to bring cheer in what could be described the worst period of depression around the world for more than a century.
Four days ago, more than 20,000 fans turned up for football semi-final clash in Belgrade. On Friday attendance at a tennis charity event - organized by world number one Novak Djokovic - was also promising as more than 2,000 fans turned up at the compound by the Danube river in central Belgrade. Djokovic even went to defend the big crowd for the tennis event, saying professional athletes are desperate for action.
Djokovic, whose Adria Tour is scheduled to move on to neighboring Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the coming weeks, said: “You can also criticize us and say this is maybe dangerous but it’s not up to me to make the calls about what is right or wrong for health. We are doing what the Serbian government is telling us and hopefully we soon will get back on tour collectively. Lives have been lost and that’s horrible to see, in the region and worldwide. But life goes on, and we as athletes are looking forward to competing.” The next two legs will be held in Croatia’s coastal resort of Zadar (June 20-21) and in Bosnian city of Banja Luka (July 3 and 4). More fans are expected to stream in at the venues thanks to the presence of world No.3 Dominic Thiem, No.7 Alexander Zverev and No.19 Grigor Dimitrov.
On Saturday, rugby action resumed in New Zealand with a clash between Otago Highlanders and the Waikato Chiefs. The game drew a cheering crowd of 20,000 plus at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The atmosphere at the venue was electric with none of the fans wearing masks in a country that has rid itself of the Covid-10 menace with no cases in the last 23 days. The Highlanders won 28-27 but the fans seemed to be more overjoyed by being at the venue in chilly conditions.
Also on Saturday, thousands of miles away, Chinese striker Wu Lei, who tested positive for coronavirus in March, did what he always wanted to do - score goals for his side. Just two months after recovering from Covid-19, the 28-year-old Wu scored on his first game back as La Liga side Espanyol beat Alaves 2-0.
Clearly top-flight sport is helping fans take a massive sigh of relief!
