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Sport in the shadow of the pandemic: Effects on competitive athletes in Germany!
On May 2, 2025, the “Sport and Society” workshop took place at the PH Schwäbisch Gmünd, which discussed COVID-19 research and the promotion of young talent.
Sport in the shadow of the pandemic: Effects on competitive athletes in Germany!
In March 2025, the PhD and post-doc workshop “Sport and Society” took place at the PH Schwäbisch Gmünd. Loud PH Schwäbisch Gmünd This event is held every two years at different universities. The target group includes both young and established researchers from Germany and Switzerland. This year, the workshop focused on the topics of youth competitive sports and COVID-19 research.
Organized by Prof. Dr. Jochen Mayer and Leonie Schnith from the sports science department, the participants contributed their perspectives on topics such as the promotion of young talent in competitive sports, the organization of sports clubs and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports. Among the participants were representatives from universities in Gießen, Chemnitz, Berlin and Bern.
Topics and lectures
A highlight was the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Hagen Wasch from the University of Koblenz, who worked on sports networks and the analysis of relational data in sports science. To promote exchange, the program also included activities to explore the surrounding area of Schwäbisch Gmünd, including a walk to the Himmelssümmerr and the marble run.
In addition, the participants went on an extensive hike to Kalten Feld and Hornberg, led by Prof. Dr. Siegfried Nagel from the University of Bern, who gave interesting socio-historical insights into the history of skiing in the region. The workshop is considered a platform for scientific exchange and networking within the sports sociology community, which has been heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sport
The pandemic, declared by the WHO on March 11, 2020, has had a far-reaching impact on sports and the well-being of athletes. A review of athletes' experiences during the pandemic indicates that they were affected directly (e.g. through cardiorespiratory effects) and indirectly (e.g. through the suspension of sporting events). PMC.
Teen athletes suffered weight gain and changes in their body composition, while psychological effects such as anxiety and depression increased. The pandemic led to higher infection rates in team sports compared to individual sports, with football having the highest positive test rates.
Quantitative data on COVID-19 in competitive athletes
A comprehensive study of the effects of the corona pandemic on competitive sports in Germany and Austria recorded 2,981 athletes using an online questionnaire. 78 athletes (2.6%) reported a positive PCR test result, and 841 athletes (28.2%) were in quarantine at least once. The unreported number of possible symptoms is estimated at 38%, with cardiac symptoms occurring significantly more frequently in PCR-positive athletes Journal of Sports Medicine.
Overall, the workshop at PH Schwäbisch Gmünd highlights the essential need to analyze the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on competitive sports and to develop suitable measures to support athletes. The next meeting is planned for April 2026 at the University of Bern to continue discussions and deepen understanding of the complex effects of the pandemic.