Following the recent announcement regarding the regulations governing
Alert Level 3, the financial survival of many sports in South Africa remains
uncertain.
According to the latest guidelines released by government,
professional non-contact sport will be permitted, which leaves many federations
in a desperate financial battle.
All
sports codes offer work opportunities at all levels from organised recreational
to professional and many sports clubs, coaches, trainers, workers and
semi-professional athletes face financial ruin should sport on all levels
remain prohibited.
Gymnastics
provides full or part-time employment to approximately 3 500 people
countrywide, with golf providing approximately 40 000 jobs at facilities
alone, and swimming an estimated 22 000 jobs. Close to 6 500 people
are employed directly and indirectly in tennis.
Various
sports federations recently came together to discuss the future and phased
return to sport. These sports federations have put strong risk mitigation
strategies and policies in place based upon international best practice and in
line with government regulations. These non-contact sports codes include gymnastics, swimming, golf, rowing, surfing, canoeing, cycling, cricket and tennis.
For the
sake of the survival of the sports economy during the Covid-19 lockdown, these
federations have appealed to government to consider the economic and health impact
of restricting organised sport in South Africa.
“The
plan SAGF submitted includes the protocols we will be implementing across all
our registered clubs in South Africa to ensure social distancing, regular
sanitisation of gyms and education about combatting this virus to all its
members, amongst other things,” said Anne Vermaak, CEO of the South African
Gymnastics Federation.
“We urgently need our clubs back in business to ensure
their financial survival.”
Richard
Glover, the CEO of Tennis South Africa shares Vermaak’s sentiments. According
to Glover Tennis SA has already started the Covid-19 coaching license
application process for coaches. They are also conducting a province by
province review of all venues.
“We are
beginning to educate coaches on the strict health and safety, hygiene and
social distancing measures that we will have to put in place with immediate
effect,” he concluded.
“It is essential that we return to organised activity as
soon as possible.”
Grant
Hepburn, CEO of GolfRSA says, “Golf is a healthy exercise for families and
people of all ages. It is also an excellent stress reliever and takes
place outdoors in wide open spaces. The safe return of our golfers will
mean that we can save thousands of jobs and dozens of facilities that
contribute massively to the economy and to charity. We have a nationwide
Risk Mitigation plan in place at all clubs and we are confident that we are
well prepared for golf to resume as a safe and healthy exercise for everyone”
In terms
of swimming and surfing, both federations have indicated that they are ready to
return, with Swimming SA’s policy being finalised this week. Both sports are
non-contact and is geared towards social distancing by its nature. For surfing,
the only area of risk identified is when surfers transition into the ocean from
the beach, rocks or piers – similar risks faced by runners, joggers, walkers
and cyclists under the current regulations.
Cricket
South Africa’s Maxwell Jordaan, who is their Transformation and Member
Relations Executive, has produced a plan and the way forward under each of the
four alert levels highlighted by National Government.
“Cricket SA is looking at
the BioSafe Zone aka Bio-Bubble. This means that players will live and play in
the same environment, while all the preventive measures will be ensured.
Players, officials and support staff will be tested prior to entering this
zone,” Jordaan said.
The
participation in sport has known health benefits, including promoting physical
fitness and mental wellness. Sports provide a social construct and
interaction which is necessary in a time of uncertainty. It is widely
recognised that physical activity, performed for the right amount of time and
intensity can provide benefits to the immune system.
Failure
to reopen all sports codes will indeed continue to hurt the already crippled
sports industry.
