How is 'organised sport' still allowed to go ahead

[Everleigh2021]

Hundreds of sports men/women and associated colleagues are mixing today

just watching the Newcastle v Gloucester game. Obviously no masks, they are close together, as is the game of Rugby. Medics wearing masks but inches from players, referees up close talking. someone has to clean the changing areas after them and drive them to and fro

I'm actually disgusted .... and i'm sure it all came to a halt back in March. They all travel the country, one end to the other then go home to their families. I can't get my head round it, how is this in any way safe? do their kids go to school?

There have been cancellations of some fixtures, and the covid restrictions have been tightened

www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12331/12181275/premiership-rugby-tighten-covid-19-rules-after-surge-in-postponements

with video of eg warm ups to ensure compliance.

But yes perhaps the rules for elite sports could be tightened further

It was stopped in March but not this time

so they now aren't allowed to shake hands at half time.....but they have just been lying on top of each other on the ground sweating and slobbering and hands all over.

God forbid "elite sport/athletes" should have any restrictions

But they are working, and work is allowed outside the home if you can't do it from home.

@Everleigh2021

It's their job. A lot of people struggle understand sports as a job. But it is. It's their job. They are allowed to work. Not only that but there is a lot of testing going on within those set ups.

Cross posted

Hairdressers, beauty treatments, running gyms is also all their job and have been stopped. I agree, this is a day things to keep going.

camera just panned along to the managers and coaches standing nearby....all with masks under their chins!!

The managers, coaches and players are in a bubble at the training grounds. They are tested regularly. They don't need to wear masks as they are outside and in the same bubble (Same as teachers and pupils?)

However, some clubs have had outbreaks and games postponed as a result whilst those in the bubble isolate. It may be that restrictions do need to be tightened up for football and other team sports to continue.

I can't get over this being allowed and yet schools closed.

@MinesAPintOfTea

Hairdressers, beauty treatments, running gyms is also all their job and have been stopped. I agree, this is a day things to keep going.

It's not as simple as those jobs are not allowed to be done so every other job should not be done. The testing and bubbling among teams/coaches/management is reasonable. A hairdresser/nail salon etc couldn't do that with everyone they come into contact with.

It's quite a sad state when rather then being pleased some people can still work the first thought it 'but what about' - we don't want people out of work, surely?

@Ruled

I can't get over this being allowed and yet schools closed.

Because the capacity isn't there to test thousands of kids in schools in the same way as they can test a smallish group of sports people?

if they don't have to wear masks then why are they? they all went indoors with them under chins and end of the game they are all hugging/shaking hands/fist bumping the opposite teams....its all there on live tv!

bloody big bubbles.....what about the referee? linesmen and women? medics? don't they go to different games each time? therefore mix with other teams

and also....so many games postponed as it appears the virus is actually rife within sport

I can't understand why it's allowed either. Very selfish as their partners and kids could be out mixing at schools and work too.

I completely agree with you OP. Not an essential activity and yes, there seem to have been many outbreaks.

From what I heard on TV they are all being tested 3/4 times a week. Not that I agree with it and think it should stop.

but they go home to wives and kids....are they in one of these magical bubbles too?

tests are only going to work in the present....do they get tested just before the game? or two days prior?

You have to balance the public health implications versus the fact that they provide entertainment, and subsequently improve the mental health, for a lot of people.
I'm personally happy sport is still happening.

Well they make my mental health worse so that balanced out nicely! :)

I think it’s really wrong and so unnecessary. Sports are literally the most pointless jobs right now. They’re setting a really bad example by touching and hugging and wearing masked around their chins. DS was watching Liverpool last night and couldn’t understand why they could do their sport but he can’t do his, or go to school. Also, the amount of outbreaks in teams show that the (enormous) ‘bubble’ idea isn’t working.

@DrDreReturns
It's noticeable that there aren't the same calls to see TV production halted. It's almost as though these people think the entertainment that they prefer is objectively better.

Sports are literally the most pointless jobs right now.

Surely all jobs hold value for the employee though. Wanting people to be out of work is a right bizarre way to look at things. Imo the more people that can work as safely as possible, the better.

It's hardly "leading by example" is it? I do feel sorry for children who can't play their own sports at the moment.

DS was watching Liverpool last night and couldn’t understand why they could do their sport but he can’t do his, or go to school

You explained to him the difference between w child partaking in sport and an adult working in the industry though, right?

It’s bollocks and it really bloody annoys me.

Presume it’s to keep the masses happy.

It annoyed me even more when the random Tiers were in existence and some places could have a small number of spectators.