The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on society, leading to a rapid closure of businesses, places of work, worship, social engagement, schools and universities. Sport is often seen-along with the arts-as a trivial pursuit, categorised under 'hobbies' or things to do once the serious business is over. However, this critical commentary argues that sport and sports events play a crucial social role even under normal circumstances. To this end we analyse the impact of Covid-19 on three areas of sport: first, the nature of elite sport played 'without spectators' is discussed and what this means for the necessary 'feelgood' factor associated with watching and following it; second, we look at Covid's impact on the provision of sport for those in less well-off areas, drawing on a case study of Oldham during the pandemic. Finally, we analyse the severe economic and social impact of the pandemic on grassroots sports, including the relationship between mass and elite sport. This commentary seeks to stimulate wider interest on how Covid-19 has changed sport at elite and grassroots level and how the pandemic has led to differential outcomes for people from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Based on the above, the commentary assesses the likely longterm consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic on sport.

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The spiralling costs of hosting sports mega-events (SMEs) are usually justified by the 'legacies' that they produce. Therefore, this article begins by problematizing the notion of SME 'legacies' and the benefits they are intended to bring to hosts. The article serves as a general introduction to the papers that follow in this Special Issue. Common to all papers is a concern with the multifaceted nature of 'legacy', its meaning to a variety of stakeholders involved in such events and how this impacts policy. The belief in the causal relationship between hosting major events and the realization of specific legaciesincreased sport participation in London's case, highlighted in this paperunderpinned the UK's bidding for, and subsequent hosting of, the Olympics. Thus, this paper serves as a discussion of some of the key concepts in, and assumptions about, the use of SMEs to produce a legacy for the hosting state.