Today is the latest red-letter day for Irish sport with the Government expected to announce what restrictions on the movement and functioning of society can be eased in the current situation of public health maintenance.
It has not been difficult to read between the lines of Government thinking in recent months with numbers of infections and hospitalizations remaining stubbornly higher than hoped for but also there being increased movement and frustration on the part of individuals and different sectors of society.
Social media has become a difficult space to avoid anger and recrimination with some individuals that have traction within the sports community viewing themselves as lone wolves operating against what they see as the power of the state and other unseen forces. It is right there should always be the freedom to express dissenting voices, that’s what democracy and self-determination is based on.
It can foster ill-feeling though where there is a sense that this is no longer an ‘in it together’ approach and has become one of ‘do what you can get away with.’
The actions of certain institutions and individuals in recent weeks has undermined trust and brought us closer to a world where civil disobedience, regardless of consequence is somehow seen as more acceptable.
There are treatises on political philosophy that deal much better with these societal questions than we could ever hope to but a glance at what is happening provides a context for whatever restrictions are loosened today being based more on politics than strict public health.
Like any balancing act, there will always be wobbles before the right equilibrium is arrived at.
So what can we hope for, or expect today?
A return of children’s training
The Government’s main priority is the return of all children to schools on April 12th.
If they are back in an indoor school setting, then there is a strong argument for allowing them to return in the structured environment that applied to sports club training in a non-contact setting and in pods of 15.
The likelihood is that this will be allowed in principle, most likely from April 12th to allow additional time to pass without putting the schools return at risk, and also to enable individual sports and clubs to dust down the protocols and ensure that things are done in a safe fashion once the timing of a return is confirmed.
A return to adult outdoor activity
There has been a strong sense that those sports which led the way back after the first lockdown will be permitted to do so again this time around. Golf and Tennis are the two that are most visible and have been the most lobbied for. This will be easier to manage if there is a corresponding lift in the distance that can be travelled from home, and if that is the case it is most likely that these non-contact and socially distance-able activities will be permitted again.
In addition to golf and tennis, athletics, rowing, canoeing and equestrian sport were also permitted in the early days of relaxation and this is likely once again to be the case. An Taoiseach may not name-check all the sports but follow up activity from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will outline what will be permitted in more granular detail.
The return of ‘non-elite’ adult sporting activity will likely not be included in this re-set but it has to be hoped there will be some connection drawn between the rollout of the vaccine programme and some dates in the diary to plan for, just as has been the case in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Indoor activity
This is unlikely to be included for a while yet, despite being seen as OK to play in many countries around the world.
The NBA and March Madness are across our TV screens from the US and Basketball has led the way here in continually questioning the position with regard to indoor training and playing, without ever stepping over the mark of what might be seen as encouraging reckless behaviour.
It would be hoped that activities that can be undertaken in a safe manner, including in gyms and swimming pools will at least be referenced for when they might be able to open their doors.
Inter-County Gaelic Games
The GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association managed their competitions to a conclusion through the autumn and up to December and it is seen as likely that a return to training for elite squads will be permitted, with the hope that League competitions can get underway in May and Championships start in June to run through the summer months.
Last time around there was a kink in the system which only allowed one squad in each county, something that impacted on the Intermediate and Junior competitions in Camogie. It would be hoped this has been resolved now and that a full slate of competition can be made possible.
Major Event Planning
The FAI and UEFA will be monitoring the announcement closely with a view to determining if the Aviva Stadium can still host the planned four games in the Euro 2020 Championship Finals.
UEFA’s decision on hosting has been pushed back to next month in order to give more time to all venues to determine their individual positions. Most stadia have outlined the permitted return of a limited number of fans, even if only from a local perspective.
If there is no positive word on this from the government there has to be a serious risk that Dublin will lose out in the right to host the matches.
The College Football Classic that had been scheduled for August has already been pushed back to 2022.
European and World Championships scheduled to take place in Basketball and Lacrosse this summer will also be awaiting confirmation on whether travelling teams and family members will be permitted to travel and what quarantine/bubble measures will be applied.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is another event scheduled for the Summer which will be looking for some positive movement in the movement that might be allowed for participants and fans.
Gatherings
There are scheduled points in the original reopening of society guidelines that allow for the limited return of fans to events depending on the size of stadia. The numbers in those are only in the hundreds rather than anything which would make an appreciable commercial difference to top level sport but would allow for a gradual re-engagement at club level.
It will though be academic until such time as a return to adult training and games is put onto a timeline.
Join us tomorrow for a full review of what has been announced.
Sport for Business Partners
