While a number of successful pilots have already been
held in football, rugby, cricket and snooker given the
overall national Covid situation pilots will now be
limited in number.
The change will come into effect from tomorrow for all
sports pilots due to happen this month.
The government will also make a decision on whether
fans can return to sports stadia socially distanced on
1 October and if people will be able to attend business
conferences and events from that date.
Organised grassroots sport will be able to continue in
a covid-secure way to help people stay fit and healthy.
This includes organised team sports, Parkrun and
exercise classes in gyms and leisure centres.
Culture Secretary
said:
In light of increasing transmission rates, the
Government is reviewing the proposed sports and
business events pilots ahead of the 1 October and we
will unfortunately need to scale some back.
We know fans and audiences are eager to return, and
jobs depend on this too, so work continues around the
clock on the moonshot project with the ambition of
having audiences back much closer to normal by
Christmas, if safe to do so.
The government announced the latest sporting events to
pilot the safe return of spectators on 26 August and
was clear that they would only take place if the latest
scientific and medical advice allowed for them to
proceed in a Covid-secure way.
Clear guidance has been produced in consultation with
the Sports Ground Safety Authority to set out the
strict measures that test events must follow to limit
the spread of coronavirus.
This includes upholding social distancing in queues,
minimising the risk of any pinch points or crowding and
recording people’s data to assist NHS Test and Trace.
Notes to Editors
The following test events are able to continue with an
audience capped at no more than 1,000 people, subject
to locations not having local prevalence concerns.
12 September, Dagenham - West Ham v Arsenal (Women’s
Super League Fixture)
12 September, Cambridge United v Carlisle United (EFL
League Two)
27 September, Wembley - Non-League Finals Day (FA Vase
and FA Trophy)
Rugby Union
14 September - Gloucester v Harlequins
Horse Racing
21 September - Warwick
24-26 September - Newmarket, Cambridgeshire
Cricket
16 September - Yorkshire vs Durham (T20)
18 September - Lancashire vs Durham (T20)
18 September - Hampshire vs Surrey (T20)
19 September - Western Storm vs Sunrisers (Women’s T20)
Basketball
18 September, Eagles Community Arena, Newcastle
Speedway
26 September, Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich
