Social stratification patterns in physical activity and sports during COVID-19 384.

In this chapter the focus is on participation in physical activity and sports in Flanders, Belgium, after the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown. An overview is given of how and to what extent adults experienced the imposed measures and their impacts, starting from the finding that there has been an increase in frequenting physical activity and sports during the first month of the lockdown. A deeper understanding is presented, based on how different social groups are affected in their sporting habits and opinions. The results indicate that the educational level does not seem to majorly impact the frequency of practicing physical activity and sports. However, the former sporting behavior of the higher educated is more likely to be affected, implying that this group needs to be more flexible in adapting its sporting habits. In the long run, this may imply that COVID-19 could become a driver of social inequality.