Some sports can resume from today

Saturday 02 May 2020

Golf and tennis are two of the sports which had had lockdown restrictions eased with two people allowed to participate together from today, providing social distancing is maintained if the players don't live together.

Group activities like football, netball and hockey are still banned, while the islands continue to slowly move through phase two of the covid-19 lockdown.

The island's golf clubs moved to provide their members with information about new tee-times and booking systems soon after the new guidance was released yesterday lunchtime.  

The Guernsey Sports Commission said welcomes the 'gradual easing of restrictions' because of the benefits for peoples' mental health as well as physical wellbeing.

"Whilst we are delighted to hear that further forms of physical activity may now be undertaken as part of Phase 2 of the exit from lockdown, we would remind the community to continue to comply with the necessary restrictions in order to safeguard our island," said Deputy Matt Fallaize, the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture representative on the Sports Commission.

"We know that taking part in sport and physical activity has a positive effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing and understand that people are keen to try to get back to normal as quickly as possible but the restrictions are there for a reason and we would ask the sporting to community to be patient and continue to comply with those restrictions."

Away from the golf course and tennis courts, one to one coaching or personal training, some other non-contact sports and other activities with one other person from outside your household – as long as social distancing measures are strictly adhered to - are also allowed to resume, for up to two hours per day.

The full guidance is available on the States website HERE. Further details will be added as other sports are allowed to resume. 

Pictured: Jon Ravenscroft. 

Chief Executive of the Guernsey Sports Commission, Jon Ravenscroft, said the resumption of some sports had come about after the Sports Commission's staff leased with its members and the States.

"I would like to thank the team for continuing to ensure the voice of sport is being heard at the highest levels of Guernsey’s government.

"Sport plays a major role in Island life and we know that many sporting organisations are struggling because of the impact of lockdown on their finances, their staff and their members. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that support is available, but in the interim we would ask all sports to carefully read the guidance, share it with their members and strictly comply with the continuing restrictions.

"Our team is available to provide advice and guidance to any sporting organisations at this time and I would encourage anyone with any questions to contact the Commission."

Pictured: Image from the Royal Guernsey Golf Club.