WHAT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ARE DOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS?
In our continuing coverage of the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Sarina had a chance to speak with Ed Georgica, head of operations for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a Canadian professional soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that competes in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Ed also is an owner of CORESHORTSโข, which is a medically grade compression garment for professional athletes or any person who requires improved stability and motion control assistance.
The MLS season stopped after only its second game, due to COVID-19, and the Whitecaps have been on lock down in Canada for just over three weeks. Even though they are not playing, the team is doing its best to help everyone stay healthy.
Ed says, โFrom our operations and executive management perspective, weโve got to keep those athletes safe and sound because there are some young kids. So, weโve now delivered bikes and weights and bands โ like a mini gym โ to all their places. At the same time, we deliver food every Monday.โ
While the players work to stay in competitive shape, we all want to know when the MLS โ and other sports teams โ will get back on the fields. The MLS is made up of 26 teams in the United States and Canada, and the league is working collaboratively with its clubs and other leagues to protect their athletes and their families.
Ed says, โI think weโre looking at a longer road than we all think, thatโs my opinion. Looking from the stats of what the Canadian Disease Control is saying in BC and across Canada is that weโre not all the way at the top yet. Weโve got a ways to go. Self-isolation and social distancing are a big thing up here in Canada right now. And weโve got to keep continuing to do that to make sure weโre all safe and sound.โ
But, while everyone is benched, Ed hopes that fans will make the best of the situation.
He says, โThereโs always a positive to every negative, I think. There are more people working out now. More people working out in their home gyms or doing things in their front yards. Things that you didnโt see people do before. Itโs exciting to see that people react to different things. But, at the end of the day, we all like interactionโฆWith the technologies in 2020, that we can interact with our grandparents or my daughter that lives abroad, it gives us more quality time with them, and people should take that as a positive, not a negative.โ
Ed advises young athletes to look after themselves physically and mentally but hopes that they will enjoy this break from travel and stress. During this time, he recommends taking home fitness classes, interacting with others through technology, making sure youโre protected with CORESHORTSโข, being safe, and enjoying life!
Learn more about CORESHORTSโข at: