ABSTRACT
Pandemic restrictions have revealed the value of sport in our culture. An analogy with religion is considered here, with the conflict between pandemic restrictions and religious liberty providing a legal touchstone. Some claim that sport is life. But athletic autonomy is not as culturally significant as religious liberty. Nonetheless, in considering conflicts involving pandemic restrictions on sport, we can gain insight into the conflict between autonomy and paternalism. This chapter examines moral dilemmas created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including conflicts between individual liberty and communal well-being, as well as trade-offs between short-term and long-term goods, and the general problem of paternalism. Understanding autonomy as self-limitation under rules can help us resolve some of these conflicts. Athletic endeavors are voluntary and rule-governed practices in which autonomy and consent matter, as well as the well-being of the athlete, the team, and the community. Cultural forces create pressure on athletes to risk their well-being, including pecuniary interests and an athlete's general desire to play. The pandemic can help us clarify our values including the importance of athletic autonomy, the role of sport in our culture, and the complexity of athletic well-being in a communal context.
