New Covid-19 restrictions: Implications for forthcoming events

Wednesday 22nd December 2021

scottishathletics and jogscotland Covid Supplement V3 231221

UPDATED: Thursday 23 December (3pm)

Following further dialogue with Scottish Government and sportscotland, it has been clarified now that here is no limit on the number of competitors for events indoors or outdoors.

There is a limit of 200 spectators for indoor events, and 500 for outdoor events.

This feedback will help significantly with our planning for the 4J National Open at the Emirates Arena on Saturday 8 January, albeit with restrictions on spectator numbers.

Unfortunately, the GAA Miler Meet (including Scottish 3000m Champs events) scheduled for Monday 3 January has been cancelled. All organisers involved understand the frustrations for athletes and coaches and do sympathise; solutions to a number of issues could not be found.

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Wednesday 22 December (8pm)

scottishathletics and jogscotland Covid Supplement V2 221221

Following the latest Covid-19 restrictions announcement, scottishathletics have been liaising with sportscotland and Scottish Government to understand the implications of the latest changes.

These new restrictions that will be effective from Sunday 26 December 2021 to Sunday 16 January 2022 (inclusive).

An outline of some of the detail around the announcement (made on December 21) is lodged above and also on our Covid-19 information pages.

The key points to note are as follows:

• Club training in indoor and outdoor environments is still permitted following the guidance in the scottishathletics Covid Supplement V2 (adults must physically distance indoors).
• Outdoor events now have a limit of 500 participants/spectators (coaches and officials are not included in the limit).
• Indoor events now have a limit of 200 participants/spectators (coaches and officials are not included in the limit).
• Indoor contact sport for adults is not permitted during this period. Within an athletics context this means adult track events with a break (200m plus) cannot take place.

With indoor events scheduled for January 3 and January 8, and the Inter-District XC planned for January 15, scottishathletics are exploring all possible solutions to ensure that we can offer competition for our members over this period.

This includes continuing to liaise with Scottish Government and sportscotland to consider how track events over 200m for athletes aged 18+ might be able to run safely within the restrictions imposed.

A decision on the January 3 event (organised by the Glasgow Athletics Association and featuring 3000m Championship races) is imminent, pending conversations with the partners involved. *NOW CANCELLED, see above.

We are exploring all options for the 4J National Open on January 8 as we seek to give as many athletes as possible the chance to compete.

And we further remain confident that the Inter-District XC on January 15 will be able to go ahead as planned.

Covid-19 with documents 

Colin Hutchison (photo by Bobby Gavin)

‘It is extremely frustrating to be talking once again about restrictions being implemented that impact significantly on competitive sport,’ said chief executive Colin Hutchison.

‘However, we do appreciate the wider situation caused by the Omicron variant and are working with colleagues in Scottish Government and sportscotland to ensure scottishathletics can provide competition for our membership during this period.

‘Unfortunately, not all scheduled events will be able to go ahead in their (currently) planned format, but we are working hard to find the best solutions possible within the restrictions placed on sport.

‘I would like to thank all our members for their continued patience and support whilst we work through these challenges.’

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Tags: Colin Hutchison, Covid-19, sportscotland