Update on Indoor Sports Activities

Dear Members,

We have received the following update from Tennis Ireland. We will keep you posted on all updates received:

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting restrictions that have been implemented to minimise transmission, Tennis Ireland has been engaging with the relevant authorities to ensure that our sport could open safely when the prevailing conditions allowed.

To date, TI have been relatively successful in this regard. TI were among a very small group of sports that were permitted to open first and more recently have been able to partially open our indoor courts, albeit with restrictions that limit activity to casual singles play and doubles partners from the same household when many other sports have not been allowed to open for any activity.

The Government had previously indicated that from 5th July we would have seen indoor sports moving from individual based activity to pods of up to six, and we were hopeful that further easing of restrictions in relation to indoor activity would have happened in July and into August.

Unfortunately, the increase in the Delta variant led to a much more somber assessment of where the country was from NPHET and the planned easing of restrictions on indoor activity had to be paused.

Over the last number of weeks, we have been working with the Federation of Irish Sport, which is the representative body for the National Governing Body sector and 19 other “indoor” sports to push for a further easing of the restrictions as they relate to indoor activities.

During our engagements we have pointed out the anomalies that exist in the application of the restrictions across different sectors, such as in gyms, cinemas and the hospitality trade.

On the 26th July last, Mary O’Connor, the CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, wrote to the Chair of the Department of Sport Expert Group on behalf of the indoor sport sector seeking the following;

• An Expansion of Elite/High Performance/Professional Sport definition as per Statutory Instrument No. 168 of 2021

• The return of normal indoor Children’s Sport and Physical Activity

• The return of normal indoor adult sport and physical activity for all fully vaccinated individuals

Unfortunately, the response has not been positive, and we have been advised to continue with the current restrictions and prepare for an Autumn return of indoor sport at the earliest.

Furthermore, we have been told that there is no indication from Government that the approach taken for indoor dining will be applied across other sectors including indoor sport.

Obviously, the indoor sports are disappointed with the response provided by the Expert Group and are considering a response and further engagements.

Committee