This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the sports world, athletes are facing an uncertain future. Sports management agent Michel Boeting has warned that the return of normalcy in athletics and many other sports will be delayed until 2021.
Boeting, who represents several African athletes, including Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha, expects some competitions to resume in late 2020. However, the majority of athletes will see their contracts run out at the end of this season in September, with renewal dependent on their performances, which have been impossible to gauge in 2020.
“Nobody knows what will happen. Many contracts and sponsorship deals are in limbo. So some athletes will be in a very difficult position,” Boeting warned on Sunday.
Boeting added that if athletes don't run races, they will miss out on bonuses, appearance fees, and prize money, which will be a big burden for many athletes and their families who depend on them.
According to Barnaba Korir, vice president of Athletics Kenya (AK), Kenyan athletes have lost over five billion shillings due to the lack of competitive races across the globe.
“More continue to see their livelihood crashed. No races means no money. It will be hard for athletes to train and there is no competition,” Korir said.
