THE ONGOING episode with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a rough one for many people from different walks of life but Nike believes there are ways of getting by it, one of which is taking cue from lessons and values that can be taken from the world of sports.

Launched recently, Nike’s Never Too Far Down film, in line with its “You Can’t Stop US” campaign, seeks to inspire people as they find their way amid COVID-19.

Narrated by National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James, Never Too Far Down highlights how huge the world’s ongoing battle with COVID-19 is, with the Los Angeles Lakers stalwart describing it as “fighting for something bigger than a championship right now.”

But despite the rough patch everybody is experiencing, hope still remains, which could be further enhanced by what the world of sports teaches, especially digging deep and staying the course no matter the odds.

In the film, Mr. James is joined by other famous Nike athletes like Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Naomi Osaka, among others, who shared their thoughts on staying positive and forging ahead based on their experience as top-caliber athletes.

“Even if basketball looks different for a while, I’m excited about the possibility of getting back in the game, because I know how inspiring and powerful sports can be. I think the lessons we learn from sports can inspire us all,” said Mr. James, whose Lakers were on top of the Western Conference when the NBA decided to suspend its season in March because of COVID-19.

For Ms. Williams, unity and support like seen in sports would go a long way.

“Sport is the one thing that’s true, it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from. Everything is left out in the arena. For me, I put it all out there on the court as a player, but it also feels that way as a fan. You feel that joy when someone you’re rooting for wins. That’s because of the unity that sports bring us,” she said.

Never Too Far Down can be seen on Nike’s digital channels and social media platforms.

As of this writing, there are nearly 5.6 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and still growing. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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