Best Practices

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COVID-19 has a high impact on the sports community in Japan. IAKS Executive Board member Yoshiko Osamura gives an insight on what is the current status as of 20 May for the use of sports and leisure facilities in her country.

New Zealand is following the strategy of four alert levels. Related to physical activity, alert level 2 continues to expand the opportunities for play and active recreation and reintroduces the opportunity for competitive sport at a local level. Sport New Zealand has put together the answers to commonly asked questions during the re-opening process.

On 18 May, international experts exchanged information and ideas via a videoconference on how to reopen sports grounds and public outdoor areas. The video cast is available free of charge at the IAKS Youtube channel. It aims at sharing current knowledge and offering learnings for your situation.

The community of aquatic, recreation and sports industry in Australia has developed an industry re-opening framework response, which is proportionate and is committed to providing safe environments for its employees and the community who are keen to exercise, recreate and participate in community sport within managed facilities and space.

On 18 May, four international experts will exchange information and ideas via a public videoconference. The experts will offer an international overview about re-starting outdoor sports and leisure activities in their countries, rules and regulations to be respected, and lessons learned in this dynamic situation.

To gradually remove baseline restrictions and make the country COVID-safe, Australia's three-step plan provides a pathway for jurisdictions to move towards COVID safe communities in a way that best suits their individual circumstances. States and territories are able to move between the steps on the pathway at different times, in line with their current public health situation and local conditions.

The team of IAKS Nordic is providing a brief run through of the situation as of 11 May in each of the Nordic countries. The information is gathered using both official channels and from personal exchange of knowledge between the IAKS Nordic members.

How is the current situation with regard to COVID-19 restrictions, and what is important when preparing the re-opening of public pools? On 6 May, five members of the IAKS pool expert circle exchanged their ideas via a video-conference. Learn more from Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland.

Kannewischer has devised a protection plan specifying the measures required at its thermal spas when they are re-opened after the coronavirus lockdown. The protection plan covers the protection of employees and users in the various areas of the spas (entrance, spa, sauna, food & drink, wellness and physiotherapy, and fitness).

Sports activities may only take place in small groups of a maximum of 5 persons, without physical contact and in compliance with the rules of hygiene and social distancing. The respective sports federations have developed their own specific hygiene regulations and detailed protection plans.

A timely tool of minimum baseline of standards, for ‘how’ reintroduction of sport activity will occur in a cautious and methodical manner, based on the best available evidence to optimise athlete and community safety. The principles apply equally to high performance/professional level, community competitive and individual passive (non-contact) sport.

The national sporting authority in Austria has compiled general information on how to practise sport during COVID-19. When restarting training for minors (under the age of 14), a group size of up to six people is recommended.

In its statement as of 12 March the German Federal Environment Agency declares, that in general, direct transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via swimming and bathing water is highly unlikely. Filtration and disinfection are effective methods for inactivating imported bacteria and viruses.

Related to practising sports, the Irish Government has drawn up a roadmap for modifying restrictions stretching from individual exercise to sports spectating with limited numbers and separation.

How can outdoor sports facilities be re-opened for physical activities? IAKS Germany has drafted recommendations for the use of outdoor sports facilities to ease their re-opening process.

When can pools expect to be re-opened? This question is of existential importance for operators – in most cases municipalities or municipal enterprises. IAKS Germany suggests a phased plan for the reopening of swimming pools, comprising three phases: During widespread social distancing – Easing of regulations – Full-scale operation.

The European Waterpark Association (EWA) calls for a standardised regulations procedure for the re-opening of waterparks and spas to be put in place and made available to people as soon as possible. To achieve this, it has drawn up the following two-stage phase re-opening plan that it recommends governments and authorities to carry out. In addition, a checklist for pool operators has been compiled to systematically prepare the re-opening.

The strategy of the Association of Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools (VHF) in Switzerland aims to show how indoor and outdoor swimming pools can prepare themselves to ensure an orderly and phased return to initially protected bathing after facility re-opening.

The German Swimming Pool Association (DGfdB) has drawn up guidelines for the operation of pools in a waning pandemic. Its aim is to outline a procedure for the phased re-opening of public indoor swimming pools and the opening of outdoor pools. The main focus is on the organisation of pool operation.

From 29 April on, children and teenagers will have more scope for participating in organised sports activities and play outdoors. Children aged 12 and under will be allowed to play sports together outdoors under supervision. Young people aged 13 to 18 ...

In low-risk areas, all kinds of sports venues shall be reopened. In medium-risk areas, outdoor fitness paths, track and field, and outdoor sports venues shall be reopened, while indoor venues shall remain closed. In high-risk areas, all kinds of sports venues shall remain closed. Swimming pools shall be the last place to reopen.

The ÖISS has compiled codes of conduct for several sports disciplines, based on recommendations published by the Austrian sports federations. They cover the following activities: High-level training (outdoor), high-level training (indoor), archery, golf, rowing, swimming, tennis, table tennis, and gymnastics.

Outdoor sports without body contact can be practised within the framework of the general requirements by the health authorities and the government, recommends the DIF to its specialized associations and sports associations.

In an announcement on 15 April, Austria has become the first country within the European Union to relax the rules on the practice of sport imposed in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. In the mass sports sector, the ban on using leisure facilities is to be lifted as of 1 May; ordinances to this effect are still to follow and only apply for the time being to outdoor activities.

The first ever global trends for adolescent insufficient physical activity show that urgent action is needed to increase physical activity levels in girls and boys aged 11 to 17 years. The study produced by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that more than 80 % of school-going adolescents globally did not meet current recommendations.

The Planning for Sport Guidance focuses on twelve principles which seek to help the planning system provide opportunities for all to take part in sport and physical activity. The guidance builds on the importance the Government places on the need for the planning system to enable and support healthy lifestyles.

IAKS members receive a discount of 30 per cent on the purchase of the "Practice Guide for Planning, Procurement and Delivery of Temporary Infrastructure for Major Events - Part I General Information".