Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster has announced a four-week lockdown as Stormont attempts to get to grips with the soaring Covid-19 positive cases in recent weeks.
Pubs and restaurants will close from this Friday for the next four weeks.
The half-term holiday break for schools and colleges will be extended to a two-week break to run from October 19th to the 30th.
For sport, the directives issued on Wednesday were as follows:
- No indoor sport of any kind or organised contact sport involving household mixing other than at elite level;
- No mass events involving more than 15 people (except for allowed outdoor sporting events where the relevant number for that will continue to apply)
This appears to indicate that elite level team sport such as the intercounty GAA matches can proceed as planned this weekend, provided the Covid protocols and regulations are met.
However, the new restrictions mean that all elite level sports fixtures will be played behind closed doors.
What qualifies as ‘Elite Sport’?
The Sport Ireland definition is as follows:
Professional & Elite Sport
High Performance is defined by Sport Ireland as covering those who are:
- Professional Sports People or Sports people who participate within professional competition.
- A Member of a high performance team funded by Sport Ireland.
- Those who compete at major international events including European and World Champions, Olympic and Paralympic Games. Specifically, the athletes and players associated with the below list:
- Athletes on the 2020 International Carding Scheme
- Players on the 2020 Team Ireland Golf Scheme
- Senior riders in Show-Jumping, Eventing & Dressage
- Senior team players in Hockey, Cricket, and Rugby Sevens.
Inter-county Sport
Refers to members of an inter-county team, in a competition organised by the organisations commonly known and referred to as the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association or the Camogie Association.
Senior Club Championship
Refers to a Sports ongoing Senior National Competition or equivalent.
Support Personnel
Coaches, Trainers or essential support personnel are also included in respect to the activity referred above.
