This thesis examines how ritualized sports activities were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people had to shift from communal spaces to home environments. Through nine case studies of different physical activities, the research explores how digital media enabled people to maintain communal connections despite physical separation.

Drawing on ritual theory (van Gennep, Turner), media theory (Anderson, Habermas, Latour), and original interviews, it argues that “mediatized rituals” (activities performed through and with digital media) create new hybrid spaces that blend physical and social dimensions. The research shows how people used platforms like Zoom, Instagram Live, Strava, and various apps to transform their homes into exercise spaces while maintaining community bonds.

The thesis concludes with design explorations: a 1:10 scale model of dual-function furniture pieces that serve both domestic and athletic purposes, and a two-layer outfit that can quickly transition between living and workout modes. These artifacts visualize how our perception of space shifts through ritual performance and media use.

The central finding is that while mediatized rituals offer flexibility and new ways to cope with structural changes, they also introduce challenges such as the pressure of constant connectivity and performance expectations transported into private spaces through social media.

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