Sweden received worldwide attention for its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, throughout the pandemic, Sweden was one of the few countries that did not implement any lockdown measures. This meant that primary schools remained open and classes proceeded as usual, including the delivery of physical education (PE). This paper…

Bodies have been claimed to be an 'absent presence' and touch 'risky business' in physical education (PE). We have now witnessed how these claims are intensified in pandemic times of COVID-19, particularly in countries that have adopted extreme lockdown measures. This paper explores how PE practices have become 'touchless' and bodies absent using…

Background: Physical education (PE) has been traditionally considered as a practical and 'hands-on' subject in schools, where close proximity and physical contact is common, particularly in Spain which has a high proximity culture. Significantly, the delivery of PE has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this brings significant…