CS Amina rolls out return-to-sports protocols

Sports teams will be allowed to resume non-contact training while private fitness clubs and gyms may reopen ‘immediately’, Sports Cabinet Secretary announced as she announced sports restart protocols on Friday.

The protocols include operational guidelines and preventive measures that will keep sportsmen and fans safe during the phased reopening of sports activities after a five-month stoppage caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, water sports will remain suspended while non-contact sporting activities including athletics,  badminton, tennis, Table tennis and golf will be the first to resume.

Contact sports including Judo, boxing, karate, wrestling, rugby, football, hockey, netball and basketball will however remain suspended same as water sports that are also deemed high risk of spreading the virus.

Similarly, all sporting activities that involve minors under the aged 18 years and under remain suspended although special priority will be given to national teams.

Also in the detailed report, sportspeople will not be subjected to mandatory testing prior to events however when it is required, the cost will be met by the respective federations, sport organisations or the participants.

Amina further disclosed that special considerations will be extended to national teams for international events.

It was also a big score for private fitness clubs including gyms who were given the green light to resume however under strict Covid-19 protocols.

As sporting activities continue to resume globally, Amina has also urged federations to forward their revised calendars to the ministry before the end of the month.

“The guidelines we have released today are also subject to be reviewed according to the global situation of Covid-19. We need to be vigilant and always remain responsible,” Amina urged sports personalities.

With Kenya having registered 36,576 confirmed cases so far, Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health Dr. Francis Kuria warned against complacency.

“It is still important that we are not out of the woods yet and thus we are calling for a phased reopening of sporting activities. We are satisfied with the efforts by the ministry of sports and we will continue working together,” said Kuria.

At the same time, Kuria explained that spectators will not be allowed in sporting venues in order to minimise contacts.

All sporting activities in the country were suspended in March when Kenya recorded her first case of the virus.