The regulation has been signed into law this morning that elite athletes returning from Category One countries will not have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine.
They will though have to abide by ‘equivalent’ measures either in a particular sporting bubble with teammates or at home.
This means that teams or competitors travelling into Ireland to compete will have to abide by strict guidelines restricting movement other than in the course of their activity.
And players including the Leinster Rugby team at the end of the month from France, or the Irish Women’s team if they have to travel to Italy next week in the Women’s Six Nations will have to quarantine in a way that is agreed by their sporting body, in this case, the IRFU, and by Sport Ireland.
Racehorse trainers or Jockeys travelling to Punchestown would generally be coming from the UK which is not affected. Golfers coming for the Dubai Duty-Free Irish Open would be coming from further afield though and arrangements would have to be made for them if the restrictions are still in place come July.
Each exemption will have to be certified by Sport Ireland working in consultation with the HSE.
Inter-County GAA training gets under way next Monday across the country while children’s training outdoors in pods of 15 will be permitted from Monday 26th April.
Sport for Business Partners
