WITH no games being played, recent sports headlines have centred on hopes and dreams — namely, the uncharted path leagues and teams must navigate to return to competition in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Virtually all leagues talk publicly about their desire to return before summer. But behind closed doors, they are hatching different potential plans: all 30 baseball teams playing in Arizona; home run contests to decide drawn games; the Stanley Cup being hoisted in an empty arena that neither team calls home; end-of-season football standings decided by vote; college American football games in spring.

Over the past week, The Associated Press spoke to more than two dozen policymakers, coaches and players across the globe to get their candid assessments of plans to return from the stoppages caused by the new coronavirus. The conclusion: While it’s critical to put optimistic restart scenarios in place, there is no certainty any of these plans will work without buy-in from politicians and an OK from players and medical experts. Underpinning it all would have to be a drastic ramp-up in testing, a vaccine or treatment breakthrough, or some other solution.