One of the many impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the disruption caused to international sporting events. Since March 2020, numerous events have been cancelled, delayed, rescheduled and sometimes cancelled again, or occasionally altered to a point that they barely resemble the spectacle we would all have been expecting in pre-pandemic times.
As vaccination programs roll out and the world starts a cautious journey back towards ‘the old normal’, countries considering hosting major sporting events are having to re-think exactly what it takes to run a successful event. Those countries keen to welcome back international sports stars and spectators are aware that, for the time being, they are still going to be planning around the pandemic, and thinking on their feet, especially if a new variant breaks out in the run-up to a major event.
United Arab Emirates is among the countries making efforts to bring a range of international sporting events back, as safely as possible. Pre-pandemic, Dubai was known for hosting some pretty high-profile events, including the world-renowned Dubai World Cup horse race, golf tournaments and soccer matches.
The Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens rugby tournament returned to Dubai in December of 2021. The tournament, which has now been running for more than 50 years, is a major spectacle that usually attracts around 100,000 spectators from around the world, along with about 4,500 participants.
The 2021 tournament was scaled back, with only 12 men’s teams competing instead of the usual 16. Disappointingly for many, the first event was played without spectators. The second round, however, opened the doors to the fans and, perhaps surprisingly, did not require proof of vaccination or a negative test result to enter the venue. Safety measures were in place, with social distancing facilitated throughout the stadium, masks required when moving around the venue and a wristband system in place to facilitate easy contactless payments.
The return of the rugby tournament followed another Dubai event, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The four-week cricket tournament took place in October and November of 2021. As at the Rugby Sevens, there were restrictions in place for spectators, with overall capacity capped to enable social distancing and other safety requirements.
In November 2021, Dubai also hosted the DP World Tour Championship, which took place over four days at the Jumeriah Golf Estates. The tournament features 50 top golfers from around the world for its season-ending finale, and again, spectators were welcomed with safety restrictions in place, including social distancing and face coverings. For this event, proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test was required for admission to the venue, for both UAE residents and international visitors.
There is no easy or universal solution to hosting major sporting events while Covid is still a worldwide cause for concern, but Dubai is doing a good job in challenging and ever-changing circumstances. Hopefully the region’s efforts will be rewarded, with more tournaments and championships returning to the United Arab Emirates throughout 2022.
