COVID-19: Opinions on the acceptable level of risk within returning sports, by region

The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), otherwise known as COVID-19, is an infectious disease first identified in the city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in China. Infections have since been reported worldwide resulting in an unprecedented international response that amongst other containment measures, lead to the widespread suspension of many sporting fixtures worldwide. During a representative survey of the British adult population, undertaken between the 3rd and 4th June 2020, respondents were asked their opinion on the level of risk expected to be accepted by professional sports men and women should be expected to accept so that sporting competitions can resume.

A similar share of respondents held the opinion that professional athletes should accept either no risk or a small amount of risk, 35 percent of respondents held the opinion that athletes should accept a small amount of risk whereas only 30 percent held the opinion that athletes should accept 'no risk'.

The responses to this survey have subsequently been categorized into into eight groups characterized by the region within which the respondents live.
The greatest share of respondents within the regions of England and Wales held the opinion that professional athletes should accept a small amount of risk so that sporting competitions can resume, whereas in Scotland the greatest share of respondents held the opinion that that professional athletes should accept no risk, with 41 percent compared to a share of only 27 percent that held the opinion that athletes should accept a small amount of risk.