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Original poster

How is 'organised sport' still allowed to go ahead

128 replies

Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 14:51

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?

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/01/2021 17:24

@DrDreReturns

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.
This. I can't wait for the test match to start next Thursday
Original poster
Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 17:24

i love sport and i'm surprised by my reaction to it actually

my sport has all been cancelled too. can do it solo though

OP posts:
caringcarer · 09/01/2021 17:25

Grass roots sports is off even for children. Elite sport is their job and they are tested every week.

bluebluezoo · 09/01/2021 17:32

Presume it’s to keep the masses happy

Elite sport is continuing as olympic medals brings funding. If they stop training and fail to get medals if the olympics goes ahead funding is cut. Not only do the athletes lose but the countless coaches, physio’s, “performance directors”, heads of development etc all lose their jobs too.

And no, many of the smaller sports aren’t testing at all unless symptomatic.

Personally I think the olympics should be cancelled. Stop the pressure to keep training, apart from the event itself being a massive risk.

Original poster
Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 17:33

a weekly test? well thats no good if they are tested on monday and its negative but there game is wednesday and saturday with training on thursday (for example).....they may be positive in the meantime

OP posts:
Original poster
Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 17:34

they were furloughed first time round,why not this time?

OP posts:
Backbee · 09/01/2021 17:35

They have a rigorous test regime, have been able to afford many preventative measures, and the masks are more than likely just to people aren't going omg why aren't they wearing masks. Plenty more to be enraged about regarding what's open and the lack of consideration some employers have to staff imo.

Original poster
Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 17:39

so why are so many games ending up postponed? seems this 'rigorous testing' isn't good enough

masks....wear them or not....a half hearted pushed under the chin is not professional, this is elite sport, professionals,after all

OP posts:
Twanger6 · 09/01/2021 17:44

I’m not sure why it is any different to any other job. If everyone stopped working we would be watching non stop repeats on tv.

starpatch · 09/01/2021 17:48

Because its a relatively small number of 'elite' sports people mixing in order to provide entertainment and therefore improve health for millions of people? Lower leagues of football for example are not allowed to play at the moment. Its similar to strictly going ahead. Important in my opinion.

yankeedoodledandee · 09/01/2021 18:05

@Everleigh2021

they were furloughed first time round,why not this time?

Ok, loads of people were furloughed that will not be furloughed again. That's not just a sport issue.

yankeedoodledandee · 09/01/2021 18:06

so why are so many games ending up postponed? seems this 'rigorous testing' isn't good enough

Actually, the opposite is true. The testing IS rigorous, otherwise games would not be postponed.

Balhammom · 09/01/2021 18:08

I think it is sensible to allow it to do to continue. Televised sport is the one thing keeping many people say at home!

BogRollBOGOF · 09/01/2021 18:09

@starpatch

Because its a relatively small number of 'elite' sports people mixing in order to provide entertainment and therefore improve health for millions of people? Lower leagues of football for example are not allowed to play at the moment. Its similar to strictly going ahead. Important in my opinion.
Plus it's an entertaining distraction to keep the masses happy at home.

Do we really want bored, dissatisfied masses getting bored, protesting, rioting...
Riots occur more frequently in summers when its quiet on major sporting events.
Normally cold weather is a good defence against mass civil unrest, but I wouldn't rely on that at present...

It's the lesser of several evils.

alienspiderbee · 09/01/2021 18:14

Initially, when fixtures started back up, it was said that the measures they had in place ensured that this was safe. Seemed reasonable initially.

But the number of sportspeople testing positive and games having to be postponed is evidence that these measures aren't working and it's not safe.

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/01/2021 18:16

They must be tested before a match

Yohoheaveho · 09/01/2021 18:18

@Rosehip10

God forbid "elite sport/athletes" should have any restrictions Hmm
poor loves cant possibly manage without earning 10k a week can they not to mention the trauma of being confined to their luxury homes
Yohoheaveho · 09/01/2021 18:23

Because its a relatively small number of 'elite' sports people mixing in order to provide entertainment
you have a point, and it has legs but it still pisses me off that I, one of the plebs without luxury home gym equipment cant do the thing I enjoy which is going to the gym, when the wealthy and famous get to carry on as normal.
Still I guess middle aged women dont need to be placated for the sake of avoiding civil disorder

JayAlfredPrufrock · 09/01/2021 18:23

@bluebluezoo

Football isn’t an elite Olympic sport though is it?

Original poster
Everleigh2021 · 09/01/2021 18:25

they have a TOWIE celeb playing a match tomorrow,Crawley town f.c have Mark Wright playing for them

its essential remember, its his 'boyhood dream' is this 'elite sport' still?

OP posts:
yankeedoodledandee · 09/01/2021 18:26

@Everleigh2021

they have a TOWIE celeb playing a match tomorrow,Crawley town f.c have Mark Wright playing for them

its essential remember, its his 'boyhood dream' is this 'elite sport' still?

Jesus. He was a professional footballer long before TOWIE.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/01/2021 18:28

[quote JayAlfredPrufrock]@bluebluezoo

Football isn’t an elite Olympic sport though is it?[/quote]
Yes it is

peak2021 · 09/01/2021 18:28

TV money may have something to do with it, or the belief that the ability to be at home and watch Manchester United being awarded yet another dubious penalty is somehow good for mental health.

Almost all of the organised sport allowed to continue is played by men. Much of the sport and exercise stopped includes that undertaken by women.

SnugglySnerd · 09/01/2021 18:33

Dh and I were discussing this today. We are both football fans and have enjoyed having that to watch/discuss as there is so little else to do at the moment. However, we both felt that while the players are young and fit, the managers, ground staff, physios etc are not necessarily young or fit and are still having to work.
We were also talking about the horse racing that was on today. A sport with a high risk of serious injury, I'm pretty sure they have an ambulance onsite just in case (I could be wrong but sure I have seen them before on tv). This seems wrong when ambulances and hospital beds are in such short supply.

bluebluezoo · 09/01/2021 18:37

Almost all of the organised sport allowed to continue is played by men. Much of the sport and exercise stopped includes that undertaken by women

People seem to be thinking elite sport = football. Possibly cricket and rugby.

It isn’t. Swimming, tennis, gymnastics, ice skating, athletics, netball, hockey- all sports are continuing. Participants are those identified as “elite” by their governing body. So all those recieving lottery funding, and some unfunded athletes on elite pathways, depending on the sport.

All allowed to travel between areas, abroad, train as normal. Plus their coaches, physios etc.