There was a degree of relief among the sporting corridors of Gaelic games, Football and Rugby last night as April 26th becomes a target date for getting up to one million children back playing games in a non-contact outdoor setting.

For adult teams though there was no such reference point, at anything other than an elite level.

In indoor sport, the situation is equally opaque.

Gymnastics, basketball, badminton, squash, swimming, gyms and many more are hanging on, waiting in the dark over when they might be allowed a return to the courts, the pools and the treadmills.

Financially it is more expensive to operate a club that requires premises. Many of the gymnastics clubs that had seen a surge in interest and membership over recent years, are small businesses in themselves, renting premises and having to maintain insurance, security and other fixed costs.

The same is true of commercial and local authority run swimming pools and gym facilities. As a country, we have invested significantly in building a leisure infrastructure that is important for physical and mental wellbeing. Now it is in danger.

With no dates to look forward to for a return the risk now is that those children who had been engaged by something other than the big three will now be tempted back and that the wonder of other sports is seen as just too hard to maintain.

Lockdown restrictions around the world have been less onerous than we have endured. If schools are allowed back in indoor settings of 30 plus individuals for periods of six hours in a day, what then is the logic behind preventing 15 come together for less than one hour in a hall larger than any classroom, with supervisors fully committed to implementing whatever protocols are deemed necessary?

Indoor sporting activity is in a similar position to pubs and restaurants, shops and cinemas in terms of pleading its case, but if the general feeling is that sport is OK now because at least it has something, then that will be a great disservice to the tens and hundreds of thousands who play sports maybe better suited to our temperate climate.

Perhaps there will be greater detail in the coming days and a potential roadmap on when these facilities can reopen for business.

It would make the horizon visible at least and in sport as in life, it is hope that keeps you going. It is what we hope will be considered.

 

Sport for Business Partners