4J National Indoor Open all set for January 8 – with new Covid plans

Wednesday 29th December 2021

The 4J Studios National Indoor Open will go ahead on Saturday 8 January at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

We’re pleased to be able to be planning to deliver the event but, of course, those plans will be in line with the latest Covid-19 guidance.

Working with the Scottish Government and sportscotland just prior to the Christmas holiday break, it was clear that events can be staged (indoors and outdoors) with an unlimited number of competitors.

We will be asking everyone who attends, in any role, to take a lateral flow test in advance of coming along to the Emirates on January 8.

There are other aspects of the meet which we have had to adjust, however, and we are setting up an online call with Officials, to give further clarity.

Athlete Information for National Indoor Open

Here’s a number of key points around our outline planning for Saturday 8 January:

*Athletes of all ages will still be able to compete in laned track events and field events, so no changes have been made to any 60m, hurdles or 200m events, nor field events.

*Athletes aged 18+, for whom indoor contact sport is not currently allowed, are now unable to compete in 400m, 800m and 1500m events. Athletes affected have been contacted. 800m and 1500m athletes aged 18+ will receive a refund; 400m athletes aged 18+ have been moved to the 200m today but can email us to cancel their entry and request a refund instead.

*The 300m, 400m, 800m and 1500m events will still go ahead as planned for athletes aged under 18.

*Athletes under 18 on the waiting list for non-laned events have been contacted and offered places due to the withdrawal of older athletes.

*As some heats have been lost, some events later in the circular track timetable have been brought forward. All athletes need to check the revised timetable for their final event start time ahead of the day.

*Spectator numbers are limited to 200 (excluding coaches). Online spectator registration has now closed to the general public, but coach members can still register through their SportServe account. Spectators already registered can still attend.

*Should any clubs with young athletes competing not be represented by a coach on the day, they can contact us (events@scottishathletics.org.uk) to request a volunteer accreditation pass, but the availability of these will be limited.

We need those by email by noon on Thursday 6 January, please.

*All event attendees (athletes, coaches, officials and spectators) are encouraged to take a lateral flow test on the morning of the event. Should they test positive, show any COVID-19 symptoms or suspect that they may have Covid-19, they should not attend and book a PCR test. (Vaccine passports, etc. are not currently required, but anyone planning to attend this event should take precautions to protect themselves and others.)

*Other Covid-19 requirements (eg. face coverings, handwashing and encouraging physical distancing) are still in place as originally communicated, and processes in place on the day must be followed.

Thanks for all your patience and support; it is much appreciated.