OPINION: Sporting bodies and clubs doing their bit to help in many ways during crisis times

The Coronavirus Outbreak is dominating our lives in every way possible. In no specific order, socially, economically, physically and mentally.

No one is unaffected by the measures that are being put in place in an attempt to slow down the number of cases and although the Health Service to hopefully deal with those who are unfortunately taken seriously ill.

We live in challenging times. And yet there are those who simply think it is okay to carry on.

During the week the phrase ‘stay well’ was how conversations often ended - that is what I found anyway.

Now, with people choosing to ignore the advice the phrase ‘stay home’ is trending on social media and being used along with ‘stay well’.

It is not easy to change what we normally do and how we did it.

As a former smoker, I know how hard it was to break a habit. But I managed to do it.

I was back in Northern Ireland for 11 days recently and found myself in my home place for eight days, on my own. I got to sort of experience what a lockdown might be like. Admittedly, I had a fairly big project which kept me busy, but I had access to daily news and my laptop. I had no car, so I could not travel anywhere of significance and while I was within walking distance to the village, I had already purchased in advance enough resources to keep me going for the week.

It did make me think however, if there was a lockdown or even the need to self isolate how difficult it could be.

My niece works and lives in Spain. She was in lockdown. It was for her own safety and that of others, but you could hear the anxiety in her voice and also how fed up she was during a phone call. If you went out and it was not for a medical reason or getting food, the police turned you around.

Of course, if you owned a dog, you could take it for a walk. People in apartments were paying neighbours 1.50 Euros to rent their dog out so they could just get out - walking doges was allowed.

My niece, like my family, will not be in Northern Ireland this Easter for the family get together we had planned. It is the right thing to do given the seriousness of the situation and maintaining social distancing.

The UK and Ireland are not in lockdown yet, but the way people are behaving and practically ignoring the advice, it may be the only way to force home just how serious this situation is.

People are dying in large numbers and if you look at Spain and of course, Italy, the figures are really scary. It is a reality and like most of these things, unless it actually hits home, there will be some who will remain apathetic.

Yet those are the people who are stockpiling food, the ‘I will be all right Jack’ brigade, happy to take a trip to the beach or meet up with friends as they always did in public places with no regard to anyone - not even themselves.

The UK and Irish Governments have put many measures in place, covering wide ranging issues, but the inevitable lockdown must happen this week because some people are not getting the message that they need to respect this virus and the dangers it poses to others.

* One of the measures imposed by the Governments has been school closures. It was depressing returning home from Northern Ireland to see the situation being used as a political football.

Then when the school closures in the UK were confirmed, some of those who were demanding it a week earlier, were then moaning about how unfair it was that their primary seven child was missing out on their final year at primary school.

Whatever your views were, this morning parents and children around the UK are developing new bonds as home schooling begins.

For me it is no different. There will be new battles to win across the kitchen table. Patience will be stretched to breaking point.

However, it is something I am looking forward to. And I guess I am in a fortunate position to be able to do it, given that I am a freelance sports journalist and I do not have much to work on, nor are outlets seeking my services.

My bet is the children, after a few days, will realise school is perhaps a good place to be!

* While there are a lot of things happening reflecting selfishness on people’s part with regard to dealing with Covid 19, there are more good news stories as many offer their services in varying ways during the crisis.

Of course domestic rugby is now over for the season after the IRFU took the decision to lock it all down earlier in the week.

There was of course disappointment for clubs and teams who were due to contest some of the big cup finals either on schedule or perhaps later, but the bigger picture is the welfare of others.

Pupils at Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School may have been left devastated their Schools’ Cup final, postponed from St Patrick’s Day, will not now take place and the trophy is shared, but it is a small issue on the bigger scale of things.

The professional game remains hopeful they can finish off the season in some form, meaning the Guinness PRO14 and European Champions Cup, could still be finished, but again even if it fails to happen, in spite of the complications it may rise for the 2020-21 season, in the circumstances a way can be found around it.

The announcement that players and staff involved in the professional side of the game are facing wage cuts reflects the seriousness of the situation. The four provinces are businesses just like restaurants, pubs, shops, and with nothing coming in as a result of the forced closedown, they face the same issues.

For the small domestic clubs this is a worrying time. Like football, hockey, cricket and GAA clubs, to name a few other sports, when we come out the other side of the crisis, a few could have gone to the wall.

It is a worrying time, but in spite of it all, those same clubs are offering help to others in need at this time.

Many clubs - and it is not just rugby clubs - are doing deliveries for those who are vulnerable and I noticed Coleraine RFC has offered free parking to those working in the National Health Service.

On Saturday Ulster Rugby offered its Kingspan Stadium facilities to the Health Service for whatever guise they deemed necessary - following on from the GAA and IFA offering their stadia to the respective Health Authorities.

We all have a part to play in helping contain the spread of Covid-19, if we follow the advice of washing hands, social distancing and staying at home, the chances of returning to something of normality will come sooner than later.

Stay well everyone - and stay home where possible.