The sporting world has ground to a halt thanks to COVID-19.
In Australia and New Zealand, all levels of sport from the professional leagues to amateur and junior competitions have been indefinitely suspended. Professionally, domestic leagues will tentatively restart in the coming months. These early matches will be played in front of empty stadiums with only players, coaching staff and media in attendance. Gradually, depending on how far forward countries are in combating the effects of the virus, fans may even be allowed to attend in the months after.
For most international sports, a return to anything approximating business as usual this year seems incredibly unlikely. Travel restrictions will remain in place for at least another three to four months. For many locations, these restrictions could remain in place for longer. It’s difficult to imagine, for example, that the Wallabies will tour Europe in November or that the Indian cricket team will be on our shores in October.
In Australia and New Zealand, however, we appear to have been mercifully sheltered from the worst of this disease. As case numbers have fallen, our respective governments have signalled intentions to loosen social distancing laws and everyday restrictions. Scott Morrison has noted that Australia and New Zealand were in discussions about opening borders between the two nations. With this as a background, I propose the concept of a Trans-Tasman summer of international sport.
This Trans-Tasman summer could encompass any sport and should rely on a reciprocal arrangement whereby matches are hosted as equally as possible between Australia and New Zealand.
An example of this would include the Black Caps touring Australia for three Test matches, three ODIs and three T20s and the Australian team touring New Zealand with a reciprocal tour.
(AAP Image/Michael Dodge)
Similarly, home-and-away series could be organised for rugby union and league, netball, football, hockey, basketball and any other sport that was keen to participate. This could even incorporate sports not traditionally associated with Trans-Tasman rivalries such as an athletics or swimming meet, or a golf tournament.
With borders open, athletes and fans should be able to move between the two countries with relative ease. This would provide a much-needed tourism boost to both nations at a time when these struggling industries need it most. It would similarly provide a financial boost to the coffers of our struggling sports codes.
The prospect of high-quality international sport being played in front of large crowds at a time when many countries will be struggling to restart their domestic leagues would also have the potential to draw large numbers of overseas viewers.
I would propose two further caveats to this concept. Firstly, matches should not be confined to the large cities but should be played around the country. Watching live sport is a joy and that should be shared with as many people and areas as possible.
Secondly, and most importantly, the Trans-Tasman summer of sport should be used as a means of raising much needed money for charities. Like how the bushfires showed the importance of our volunteer fire services, the coronavirus has laid bare how essential our medical staff are.
The virus will also see tens of thousands out of work, relying on government welfare to survive. To have the summer of sport used as a conduit for raising money for these medical areas and protecting our most vulnerable would be truly great to see.
The year 2020 will be remembered by many as an annus horribilis. Sport, however, has the amazing power to bring people together and, at least for a moment, allow them forget the woes of the world. It may not be much, but to finish the year sitting in the sun with a beer watching sport with our friends and neighbours across the ditch sounds like a pretty good way to welcome in a better 2021.
Liam Cooper
Guest
Love the concept and who better to do it with. Godspeed
Gee
Roar Rookie
Sounds good on the cricketing front as a back up. NZ & a possible revival of the Australia A concept could fill the void if international travel bans are still in place.
Gee
Roar Rookie
The Ruby Princess could use a torpedo.
Spammydan
Guest
Bloody fantastic idea, lets make it happen
Tanmoy K.
Guest
A very good idea Matt, as Australia and New Zealand were less affected by the Covid-19 they can start sporting events from September itself.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, there is no 5G anywhere on the subcontinent, or on the continent of South America or almost anywhere in Africa. So I suspect COVID deaths in those places has arisen from that "other" cause. On a separate note, it's interesting to consider the statistical connection between high levels of both hat wearing on cruise ships and the prevalence of COVID deaths on those same ships!
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Just at the moment I think the reality is this has more chance of happening than the T20 WC or the Indian tour. It will be a miracle if India isn't hit really hard by the virus imo.
Paul
Roar Guru
Bob, I love the concept which I perhaps understated, but what's the realities?
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Matt, I desperately want this whole situation over now, but this has to be balanced with some practical reality. The idea is a wonderful fantasy, but is it practical given the mindset of those in charge?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
No argument here Rowdy, it's a waste of a holiday. Get to where you're going and actually spend time in a destination. Cruise ships have always seemed to be an excellent way to spread disease between continents, each to their own though.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Huh?
Matt823
Guest
Hey Paul, We need more of a can-do spirit, mate. Nobody likes a negative nancy. Matt.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
no stick to the tours look what Australia did to us in Australia over the summer would be god to have a tri series though
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
The Ruby Princess looks like it could use some of that paint. It's a bit of a rusty old tub.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Gee whizz Paul, ya cranky old bugger. Where's your optimism mate? .. I'm not going to argue directly against most of what you've said because, technically, you're probably right. However, I think it's also fair to say that if there are two counties in the world that are in any sort of position to recommence sporting relations it has to be we Anzacs. Our infection and mortality rates are remarkably low and we've both made it to this point relatively unscathed. I also don't think it matters how competitive or well attended any of the proposed events are. I don't think that's the point. The real point is the symbolism behind thumping our nose at the virus and saying damn you, we fart in your general direction. .. As you said, it might not actually happen but I really, really like the idea behind it. Maybe I'm too naive for mt own good but I'd love to see it happen and I reckon the rest of the world would like to see it too.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Sounds promising though I think for cricket the priority will be to keep the India tour going. And should be, given the financial benefits, and the fact it’s already scheduled. While international travel is likely to be very restricted for some time, I’d be surprised if there isn’t a degree of business travel with selected countries by the end of the year, though not tourism, other than with NZ. They are already talking about giving the Auckland Warriors an exemption to come here in a month or so for the NRL (unfair maybe, but could set a precedent). There could be practical ways to make it work. They are already talking about using the Adelaide Oval hotel and facilities as a quarantine base when the Indians arrive. But I would think that we might see an advanced testing capacity that would allow overseas visitors to be tested on arrival, or even before departure. Seven months is a long time in this pandemic.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Matt, I love to see new ideas being floated, but this is one where I'd have to rain on your parade. My first question is, when will all this take place? You mentioned summer, but when specifically are you referring to? If you remember back to November last year, Australia suffered one of it's hottest months on record, which makes sports like the rugby codes a nightmare to both play & watch. You then talk about about all the teams that could travel and assume lots of people will not only attend but will re-start the tourism industry. First of all, we don't even know if either government will allow people into games, though by the time you're talking about, I'd hope they would. Assuming they do, I'm guessing there will be social distancing in place and other restrictions in place, so numbers will be down. I'm wondering who will have the time or money to go to these games, given the the hundreds of thousands of additional unemployed we have across both countries and the available funds many families simply don't have? Throw in the vetting for the thousands of people needed to run events ( if fans are allowed to watch) and this could be extremely difficult to manage. I'm also wondering about things like insurance coverage, which I assume would be sky high, given the likely risks I then look at the potential contests of the sports you've named and wonder how we're going to get contests in most of them for two reasons. The first is simple - right now, only the NRL has a plan in place to start training and playing any time soon. What happens of the other comps don't get going before the tours start? We'd have rusty athletes who are not match fit, trying their best but risking significant injury. The spectacle would also likely be sub-par, given a lack of match practice. The second issue are the actual contests themselves. In the NRL though, Australia would flog New Zealand and vice versa in the Bledislow Cup. The cricket would also be one sided, if last summer is anything to go by, so would people turn up? The women's comps might be a more even match, if that was arranged but again, would many watch? Unlike you, I'm confident the Indian tour will go ahead, but suggest any more international sport at this stage might be a stretch. Rightly or wrongly, our politicians are a cautious lot at present and I simply can't see them allowing this expansion of sport to happen, even though my heart says "go for it".
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Cruise-ships are a terrible waste of steel, stainless steel, aluminium and paint.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I’m pretty sure India is locked in for this summer, and CA will do everything it can, along with the BCCI, to make this series happen. It could apparently be a five test series.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Worth the powers that be also discussing with the South Pacific nations which were largely unaffected as to their status for a few round robin rugby, surfing and soccer friendlies after the anticipated spike. As long as they continue to bar cruise ships.