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Green light! - Sporting administrator cautiously optimistic after governmental approval for resumption of sport

Published:Saturday | February 6, 2021 | 1:19 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
St Geroge’s College’s Christian McIntosh in action in the Boys 12 and under 50m butterfly race at the Mayberry Swim Meet at the National Aquatic Centre in Kingston on Friday, April 5, 2019.
St Geroge’s College’s Christian McIntosh in action in the Boys 12 and under 50m butterfly race at the Mayberry Swim Meet at the National Aquatic Centre in Kingston on Friday, April 5, 2019.
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LYN
Vere United’s Christopher Randall (left) takes a tumble after a challenge from Dunbeholden’s Rodave Murray during their Jamaica Premier League match at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon on Sunday, February 16, 2020.
Vere United’s Christopher Randall (left) takes a tumble after a challenge from Dunbeholden’s Rodave Murray during their Jamaica Premier League match at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon on Sunday, February 16, 2020.
Spalding High School’s Kishay Rowe (right) wins the Class Three Girls 800m final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, March 30, 2019.
Spalding High School’s Kishay Rowe (right) wins the Class Three Girls 800m final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, March 30, 2019.
WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS
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With the Govern­ment approving the return of sports, GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport Principal Maurice Wilson says that sporting associations must not squander the opportunity given and take a zero-tolerance approach to enforcing...

With the Govern­ment approving the return of sports, GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport Principal Maurice Wilson says that sporting associations must not squander the opportunity given and take a zero-tolerance approach to enforcing COVID-19 protocols.

Sports Minister Olivia Grange said yesterday that a provision for all sporting activities to resume has been made in the Disaster Risk Management (Enforcement) Order which now requires requests to be submitted to the Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sport. Once the request satisfies the terms of the order, the request is forwarded to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management for final approval on a case-by-case basis.

While some sports have received approval to return last year, the 2021 domestic track and field season has yet to begin because of COVID-19 concerns.

“We as sporting administrators, we who are in charge of the athletes, and other sporting personnel must make sure that the safety protocols are followed, they are enforced, and there must be zero tolerance when it comes to maintaining these protocols,” Wilson told The Gleaner.

NO DECISION

The approval comes just 46 days before the proposed start of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships. No decision has yet been made whether to postpone the competition to its alternative date in May.

Wilson says that track and field now has the burden of leading the way to facilitate other sports getting approval.

Football has been inactive for almost a year because of the pandemic and previous discussions regarding the start of the Jamaica Premier League have stalled as COVID-19 protocols were still being worked on.

Professional Football Jamaica Chairman Chris Williams says that he is committed to ensuring the enforcement of all required measures.

“We are grateful to the minister of sport, who we know has been batting for us,” he said. “We are also respectful of the situation that we are in. As such, we will operate with the highest level of risk management and according to the various protocols.”

Additionally, Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica President Martin Lyn says that the announcement allows better planning of its domestic calendar and he is optimistic that events will happen soon.

Events will be held without spectators and Grange says that protocols must be obeyed, with punishments guaranteed if there are any violations. She said that the new provisions eliminate the need for sporting associations to request special permission.

“Now that the order has made provision for sports events, I am asking those sports bodies, including the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, boxing, swimming and others to resubmit their applications — no longer asking for exemption, but to stage their events, including training sessions, under the provisions of this new order,” Grange said.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com