The pandemic is stretching the industry to the limit and it’s a time none of us will ever forget. Moving forward, we need to make a plan to ensure we’re better prepared to represent ourselves in the corridors of power

On 25 June, we published a global exclusive – research from the University of Oslo which showed there is “no threat of increased COVID-19 spread” at fitness facilities, even when intensive training takes place.

The story has gone on to be our best-read ever, with hundreds of thousands of shares from people all over the world. It has also been republished everywhere from The New York Times to The Washington Post.

The research – ‘Randomised reopening of training facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic’ – has been challenged, debated, lauded and dismissed, but most importantly, it has opened a conversation around how we – as a sector – are going to transact with governments and decision-makers going forward.

The fact only one academic institution in the world chose to explore the safety of using gyms in the age of COVID-19, indicates a lack of rigour in our sector, showing that we are not yet properly geared up to represent ourselves at the highest levels.

This kind of research should have been happening everywhere, creating a global picture of gym safety to inform the development of operating procedures and strengthen our position in discussions with governments.

The agonising negotiations which have been going on with government-mandated scientists around reopening show clearly that we lack evidence to defend ourselves and lack heft as a sector.

They’ve also revealed mind-boggling levels of ignorance about the way we work and the contribution we make to society and to people’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Going forward, companies which are making profits out of this market need to start to put a little more resource into national and global strategies to defend and champion the sector in the corridors of power.

Before COVID-19, we were a successful market, but also a young one, still a little scrappy and with an entrepreneurial culture. We must come out of the other side of COVID with a new mantle, forged by the challenges we’ve faced – seasoned, savvy and with a strategy to prove our worth, defend our corner and make sure the people in power are in no doubt about the value of our work.

It’s time to muscle up and get some real clout.

Obesity drives COVID-19 deaths, numerous studies show exercise defends against it and helps people recover from it. We know we can operate safely. Now is the time to step up, to prove it – and to evidence it.