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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.

Resuming sport
Resuming high-level sporting events has presented officials with a myriad of problems with solutions such as the regular testing of players and exclusion of live, in-person audiences have enabled the games to take place within the constraints of the ongoing containment measures.

English Premier League English Premier League football became one of the first major sporting events to resume in the United Kingdom on June 17th after having being suspended due to the Coronavirus in March The opinion of the British population on the return of the Premier league was heavily divided with almost half of the population holding the opinion that the 17th June was 'too soon' for the Premier league to resume however 26 percent of the population indicated that this was 'about the right time' for its return. As might be expected there was a substantial relationship observed between the level of interest of the respondent and their opinion on the appropriateness of the return of the Premier League. Only the respondents that indicated that the Premier League is one of their 'TOP' interests exhibited the greatest share indicating that the 17th June was 'about the right time' for the Premier League to resume with over 57 percent indicating as such. Conversely, the greatest share of all other respondent groups indicated that it was 'too soon' for the Premier League to resume.

Level of risk presented to athletes
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 presented to professional athletes taking part in these competitions that have resumed. The greatest share of respondents held the opinion that the resuming sporting fixtures would present the same level of risk to professional athletes taking part in these competitions. The share of respondents that held the opinion that resuming sporting fixtures would present a higher amount of risk to athletes was also quite substantial with 33 percent indicating as such. As with the opinions on the appropriateness of the return of the Premier League the perceived level of risk to athletes in resuming sports is heavily related to the respondents stated interest in the returning sport. The share of respondent that hold the opinion that that resuming sporting fixtures would present the same level of risk to professional athletes taking part in these competitions increases with increasing interest in the Premier League with 57 percent of the respondents that stated the Premier League was one of their 'TOP' interests indicating as such.