Commonwealth Moves research papers

The Commonwealth has commissioned research on the potential implications and response of the sport sector to the current crisis.

The work of the Commonwealth Moves programme’s five partners has informed a wider research initiative. This includes an analysis of the implications of Covid-19 for community sport and physical activity and a research initiative to investigate policy options and recommendations to resource the recovery and sustainability of the sport and fitness sector.

The first paper examines the impact of Covid-19 on the community sport and sport for development sectors. Among other things, it highlights that the pandemic has exposed underfunding of community sport and physical activity and that the fall in sport participation since the beginning of the pandemic has particularly affected women and girls. The paper provides recommendations for governments and community sports organisations on how to adapt policies and programmes to the pandemic.

The second paper explores policy options to resource the recovery and sustainability of the sport and fitness sector. This includes innovative strategies and policies to diversify investment in the sport sector, including ways to scale sport’s positive impact on employment; health and wellbeing and the broader economic recovery.