Sport NI launches a framework guide for getting back to sport

The document called “A Framework to guide progression towards a resumption of sport and physical recreation in NI” provides high level advice and guidance, which will help individual Governing Bodies and organisations develop their own protocols to inform a return to sporting activities including training and competitions.

The framework is published on the Sport NI website.

The framework takes account of the geographic context within which sport operates here; the unique position that sport operates on an island of Ireland basis and simultaneously.

It provides for all sports, including outdoor recreation, from grassroots level to high performance sport and professional athletes.

Minister for Communities Deirdre Hargey said: “I welcome the publication today of Sport NI’s Framework Guide which will help our sports organisations to return to activity in the safest way possible as they follow the Executive’s 5 Step Plan.

It is vitally important that we emerge from lockdown in a managed, safe and consistent way and this Framework will help with this process. I would urge the sports sector to use this Framework as they finalise their own protocols.”

Antoinette McKeown, Sport NI CEO said “There is a huge appetite across sports; athletes, coaches, fans and spectators to return to sport and many sports are actively planning how to implement the first step on this pathway.

"Sport NI’s Framework aims to facilitate that and acts as an important bridge between the NI Executive’s document and the more detailed protocols that sports will need to develop on an individual basis.”

Ms McKeown also stated: “We commend the leadership which sports have already shown in responding to Covid-19 and recognise that, through responsible actions within each phase and at each of the 5 steps of the Executive’s pathway to recovery, all sport participants can play their part in gradually and safely transitioning NI towards a new type of normality.”

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