WSA Phased Return to Sport Planning Groups
Since early-April, WSA has been working with the Welsh Government and Sport Wales to guide a responsible and managed return to sport in Wales.
Working towards each phase of the review of the lockdown regulations, every 21 days. WSA has convened groups looking at the challenges faced by different parts of the sporting landscape in Wales. We have convened groups made up of NGBs, facility providers and other interested parties to examine the potential easing of lockdown and the challenges that will arise.
Initially, six groups were put in place, looking at
- Outdoor Sports, played individually or socially distanced
- Outdoor Team Sports
- Indoor Sports played individually or socially distanced
- Indoor Team Sports
- Facility providers
- Elite and Professional Sports/Athletes.
These groups have since been cut down to four, retaining single outdoor and indoor groups, as well as facility providers and elite groups.
Each group will feed evidence and suggestions into the Welsh Government that can be taken into consideration for the easing of regulation. They also provide a forum for sharing good practice as we move through lockdown.
During the last 21 day review of lockdown, our groups were clear that easing of travel restrictions would facilitate a great deal of return to activity in Wales and this was taken into account by Welsh Government in it’s announcements. Following the First Minister of Wales statement on the 29 May, we now expect that the reopening of outdoors sports courts, currently closed in law, might be possible after the 21 June and will be working towards this.
Groups meet regularly, currently at least twice every three weeks, with WSA, Sport Wales and Welsh Government involved in each call in order to gather evidence.
If you are a governing sports organisation and would like to participate in the WSA’s phased return to sport planning groups, please contact the team here
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