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The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport in Twitter: A Quantitative and Qualitative Content Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Luis-Millán González

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • José Devís-Devís

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Maite Pellicer-Chenoll

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Miquel Pans

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Alberto Pardo-Ibañez

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Xavier García-Massó

    (Departament de Didàctica de l’Expressió Musical, Plàstica i Corporal, University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Fernanda Peset

    (Instituto Universitario de Matemática Pura y Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Fernanda Garzón-Farinós

    (Departamento de Bioestadística, Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain)

  • Víctor Pérez-Samaniego

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has transformed many aspects of people’s daily life, including sports. Social networks have been flooded on these issues. The present study aims to analyze the tweets produced relating to sports and COVID-19. From the end of January to the beginning of May 2020, over 4,000,000 tweets on this subject were downloaded through the Twitter search API. Once the duplicates, replicas, and retweets were removed, 119,253 original tweets were analyzed. A quantitative–qualitative content analysis was used to study the selected tweets. Posts dynamics regarding sport and exercise evolved according to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, shifting from considering sport as a healthy bastion to an activity exposed to disease like any other. Most media professional sporting events received great attention on Twitter, while grassroots and women’s sport were relegated to a residual role. The analysis of the 30 topics identified focused on the social, sporting, economic and health impact of the pandemic on the sport. Sporting cancellations, leisure time and socialization disruptions, club bankruptcies, sports training and athletes’ uncertain career development were the main concerns. Although general health measures appeared in the tweets analyzed, those addressed to sports practice were relatively scarce. Finally, this study shows the importance of Twitter as a means of conveying social attitudes towards sports and COVID-19 and its potential to generate alternative responses in future stages of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis-Millán González & José Devís-Devís & Maite Pellicer-Chenoll & Miquel Pans & Alberto Pardo-Ibañez & Xavier García-Massó & Fernanda Peset & Fernanda Garzón-Farinós & Víctor Pérez-Samaniego, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport in Twitter: A Quantitative and Qualitative Content Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4554-:d:543182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jairo León-Quismondo, 2023. "Social Sensing and Individual Brands in Sports: Lessons Learned from English-Language Reactions on Twitter to Pau Gasol’s Retirement Announcement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.

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