Corona Virus and events

Chivito550

Snodge wrote: »

Yes surprising, but I guess organisers are trying to be optimistic. I wonder how track meets will be considered in terms of mass gatherings? Don't get as big a following as gaa matches for example but still they will have large number of eateries when and if they start up as everyone will be looking for a race

Never in a million years is any track meet in Ireland getting 5000 plus, unless Usain Bolt shows up.

No reason why some track meets can't go ahead later in the summer/Autumn. Ban spectators and only allow athletes, coaches and officials if needs be. Nationals aside, that's all that's ever at any domestic level meets anyway.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

Never in a million years is any track meet in Ireland getting 5000 plus, unless Usain Bolt shows up.

No reason why some track meets can't go ahead later in the summer/Autumn. Ban spectators and only allow athletes, coaches and officials if needs be. Nationals aside, that's all that's ever at any domestic level meets anyway.

The 5000 is just one of the basic requirements but there will be more.

Gaa will not be going ahead also.

I doubt any races will get the go ahead also.

Chivito550

average_runner wrote: »

The 5000 is just one of the basic requirements but there will be more.

Gaa will not be going ahead also.

I doubt any races will get the go ahead also.

Obviously if current social distancing measures are still in place then nothing will go ahead. But not one of us here know how it will pan out. There's no harm in having a bit of hope that some meets might take place later in the summer. Makes a change from all the negativity.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

Obviously if current social distancing measures are still in place then nothing will go ahead. But not one of us here know how it will pan out. There's no harm in having a bit of hope that some meets might take place later in the summer. Makes a change from all the negativity.

Oh i am.still hoping we make south of france in july. But I say your athletic meets have a better chance of happening.

event

I'm not sure I'd want to do DCM tbh, even if it does go ahead. At the starting waves it's always incredibly crowded, everyone tight together. Thousands of people on the streets etc. Way to many things that would have no control over. I think I'll give it a miss until next year

echancrure

Perhaps smaller marathons events will have a chance (fingers crossed for Dingle marathon in early September ~2000 half runners and 600 full). I don't see Dublin / Paris etc. going ahead.

Perhaps smaller spring/summer events should reschedule in October/November as after all it is unlikely we will be running those other major city events...

We need decent Irish December marathon too.

The main problem for small country road events is the start and the hugs at the finish, along the route it is mostly very empty of spectators and runners are spread out.

IvoryTower

Captain buzz kill here, there'll be no races this year, get used to the time trials, enjoy!

Swashbuckler

IvoryTower wrote:

Captain buzz kill here, there'll be no races this year, get used to the time trials, enjoy!

Agree with this. Can't really get my head around people's eagerness to go from prolonged lockdown to throwing themselves into a crowd of 2000 people.

rovers_runner

Swashbuckler wrote: »

Agree with this. Can't really get my head around people's eagerness to go from prolonged lockdown to throwing themselves into a crowd of 2000 people.

Should it not be a personal choice?
You think we should all isolate until this time next year?

average_runner

rovers_runner wrote: »

Should it not be a personal choice?
You think we should all isolate until this time next year?

Not sure you can consider it a personal choice as it will affect more than just the person

rovers_runner

average_runner wrote: »

Not sure you can consider it a personal choice as it will affect more than just the person

Will it not come to that eventually if there isn't an effective vaccination found?
There won't be a lightswitch moment where everyone decides to go back to normal life.
What if people choose not to vaccinate?
People may have to decide when they are comfortable mixing socially etc.
Some may hold out, how long might that be? A year or two...?

Swashbuckler

average_runner wrote:

Not sure you can consider it a personal choice as it will affect more than just the person

If you leave it to personal choice we end up with hospitals being flooded with sick people. Why bother doing what we're doing now if that's the direction we end up going.

average_runner

rovers_runner wrote: »

Will it not come to that eventually if there isn't an effective vaccination found?
There won't be a lightswitch moment where everyone decides to go back to normal life.
What if people choose not to vaccinate?
People may have to decide when they are comfortable mixing socially etc.
Some may hold out, how long might that be? A year or two...?

They will find a solution and before 2021 is over. People may decide they are happy to socialise but how will they feel about that decision if it kills a love one because of their actions?

Can they live with that?

Chivito550

There has never been a successful vaccine for a coronavirus before.

Waiting for a vaccine that may never happen before opening up the country may not be very wise.

Hopefully we get an antibody test soon. 50% of all positives in Iceland are asymptomatic. They are testing a lot there. Makes me think many people have already had this and can go back into society. A widespread antibody test will be a potential game changer.

robinph

Hold a small marathon, post out the race numbers to eliminate the expo, everyone has to wear a mask at the start until the first mile marker, then you can take it off as by then in most races other than big city marathons everyone is running on their own, cross the finish line and everyone gets given a fresh mask for the post race mingling and collecting of your stuff.

Murph_D

Chivito550 wrote: »

Obviously if current social distancing measures are still in place then nothing will go ahead. But not one of us here know how it will pan out. There's no harm in having a bit of hope that some meets might take place later in the summer. Makes a change from all the negativity.

Hope is a poor strategy. Nothing wrong with being realistic and not promoting false hope, which only disappoints in the end. We need to get comfortable with mass (and non-mass) events not happening until there is reasonable evidence that there’s a way out of this thing. That’s a way off. Restoration of some form of normality can only happen with events/situations/workplaces etc where distancing can be reasonably achieved. Can you have a track meet with competitors 2m apart? Not without a lot of innovation. Field events easier.

jlang

When it comes to it, it won't really be an Irish decision. Just as with bringing in the lock-downs, the pols will tinker a bit to make it look like they're in control and acting responsibly under local health officials' advice, but once the European countries who were hit harder start to open up again, we Irish will not be the outlier hanging on to extreme social distancing. (I foresee the usual giver outers will complain about coordinating with the North, but the differences in the regimes will be small (always the best differences to give out about).)



The sporting organisations (GAA, AAI) were quick to escalate from the official "no large groups" to an effective "no organised activity, lock the gates of the club in case anyone tries a kick-around" as soon as the schools shut. This happened in advance of the government moving to shut the shops, and the actual stay at home and cocooning recommendations. The organisations are cautious even if at the local level the clubs are gagging to get a run out. I'd love to see low level / local training and club activity (use of pitches, use of parks, (exercise not limited to 2km) etc) able to come back before organised competitions, but it'll probably in line with businesses opening and the school and religious activity. If you can't teach a class again, you're not teaching the under 9 camogie team either (but if you can do one, the other will follow).


At the other end, until France and Spain restart top level soccer, we won't be back to stadium level GAA. Marathons and athletics meets won't get any special exemptions but will not be singled out for harsher rules either. If you can't have 10000 on the terrace in Parnell Park, you're not getting 10000 running around either.


As to when, I haven't a clue. We won't act first, but we won't act last either and we'll follow the general example that will already have been set. My main point is as Italy and Germany start opening businesses and teaching kids in schools, we will too. Sport will come along for the ride.

OutTheGap

Interesting article that quotes Professor Sam McConkey in today's independent talking about sports opening up:

"It will be sports specific. Take rugby. Physical contact is so intrinsic in rugby..it's really hard to envisage a sport like rugby with social distancing in place"

"I see that things like tennis, single-handed sailing(!), golf, fishing, cycling and running are all likely to start fairly quickly."

Maybe there is a chance of smaller races taking place later in the year if (as suggested above) competitors could wear masks for the first part of it?

Stark

He's been one of the more cautious/pessimistic commenters so I'll take him giving a tentative go-ahead as good news.

IvoryTower

Imagine racing with a mask. Give me a tt any day over that

zico10

OutTheGap wrote: »

Interesting article that quotes Professor Sam McConkey in today's independent talking about sports opening up:

"It will be sports specific. Take rugby. Physical contact is so intrinsic in rugby..it's really hard to envisage a sport like rugby with social distancing in place"

"I see that things like tennis, single-handed sailing(!), golf, fishing, cycling and running are all likely to start fairly quickly."

Maybe there is a chance of smaller races taking place later in the year if (as suggested above) competitors could wear masks for the first part of it?

He might be very well informed about medical matters, but he doesn't seem to know too much about cycling if he thinks physical distancing is likely to occur in that sport. And with 200m to the finish line, I'm sure Sean Kelly thought physical contact was intrinsic in cycling.

OutTheGap

zico10 wrote: »

He might be very well informed about medical matters, but he doesn't seem to know too much about cycling if he thinks physical distancing is likely to occur in that sport. And with 200m to the finish line, I'm sure Sean Kelly thought physical contact was intrinsic in cycling.

The start line at some of the running road races here on narrow roads can get a bit physical too!

Chivito550

People are over complicating this. If gatherings of a certain size are allowed, then sport will likely take place if numbers can be kept under such an amount.

If outdoor gatherings of over 50 people are banned, then goodbye to any sport. If outdoor gatherings of up to 500 are allowed, then track meets can take place without spectators. If gatherings of up to 3000 are allowed, then track meets will easily operate as normal, and many mass participation events too.

They aren't going to allow gatherings of say 1000 people outdoors but expect everyone to stay 2m away from each other. So if a certain sized gathering is allowed, then we can expect to operate as normal within those numbers. If its not allowed, then such events simply don't take place.

The idea of running in masks is comical and isn't going to happen.

Let's wait for guidelines on mass gatherings of smaller sizes. August/September is still awhile away.

Nobody here knows what will happen.

rovers_runner

http://longfordmarathon.com/

- Under the limit for numbers for sure
- Rural setting, once start/finish are can be planned then no reason why it cannot happen.......

DM_7

rovers_runner wrote: »

http://longfordmarathon.com/

- Under the limit for numbers for sure
- Rural setting, once start/finish are can be planned then no reason why it cannot happen.......

Issue with large gatherings is also the variety of places people travel from to take part.

A club holding an event limited to members and or those with local addresses could work in a shorter timeframe than events that allow anyone to join in.

skyblue46

Personally I wouldn't be inclined to race until the virus is either proven to be virtually non existent in the community, there is a treatment or a vaccine. While I miss the social side of races I have no interest in being tightly packed in a start area and possibly picking up the virus. I could be asymptomatic and pass it on to anyone unwittingly. Any of these people could then pass it on to someone in any of the vulnerable categories.

average_runner

rovers_runner wrote: »

http://longfordmarathon.com/

- Under the limit for numbers for sure
- Rural setting, once start/finish are can be planned then no reason why it cannot happen.......

Not if you throw in supporters, other people that happen to be in town at the time and the mass goers in the cathedral

adrian522

skyblue46 wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't be inclined to race until the virus is either proven to be virtually non existent in the community, there is a treatment or a vaccine. While I miss the social side of races I have no interest in being tightly packed in a start area and possibly picking up the virus. I could be asymptomatic and pass it on to anyone unwittingly. Any of these people could then pass it on to someone in any of the vulnerable categories.

To be honest I miss the club training and interaction a lot more than races. If we got the group training back in small numbers I'd happily live without races for a year or so.

sideswipe

IvoryTower wrote: »

Imagine racing with a mask. Give me a tt any day over that

Our friends at Nike have you covered. Vaporfly on your feet and Anti-Vapour fly on your face!

robinph

average_runner wrote: »

Not if you throw in supporters, other people that happen to be in town at the time and the mass goers in the cathedral

Just because other events are happening nearby wouldn't exclude it. If they were using that way of counting event size then just the mere existence of the town of Longford would break the rules and any town or village with a population bigger than 5000 would have to be evacuated and shut down.

average_runner

robinph wrote: »

Just because other events are happening nearby wouldn't exclude it. If they were using that way of counting event size then just the mere existence of the town of Longford would break the rules and any town or village with a population bigger than 5000 would have to be evacuated and shut down.

Most towns in Ireland wouldn't have 5000 people in that tight of spot in fairness.

This isn't London

AuldManKing

adrian522 wrote: »

To be honest I miss the club training and interaction a lot more than races. If we got the group training back in small numbers I'd happily live without races for a year or so.

Agree totally with that - had a similar exchange with Healy during the week plus another one of my running buddies.

Damo 2k9

skyblue46 wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't be inclined to race until the virus is either proven to be virtually non existent in the community, there is a treatment or a vaccine. While I miss the social side of races I have no interest in being tightly packed in a start area and possibly picking up the virus. I could be asymptomatic and pass it on to anyone unwittingly. Any of these people could then pass it on to someone in any of the vulnerable categories.

100% this, I think a lot of people are missing the bigger picture. If I didnt have the symptoms but it turned out I passed it on to somebody (unknowingly) at a 'small race' and it resulted in the worst case, I wouldnt be able to live with myself.

Ill plod along until 100% safe.

Chivito550

Damo 2k9 wrote: »

100% this, I think a lot of people are missing the bigger picture. If I didnt have the symptoms but it turned out I passed it on to somebody (unknowingly) at a 'small race' and it resulted in the worst case, I wouldnt be able to live with myself.

Ill plod along until 100% safe.

You could be doing that right now in the shops.

You'd never know either way.

IvoryTower

I'm fine with people going back racing if they wish when things die down but I wont myself. Missus is high risk so its either gone or my racing is gone.

Might have to take up tennis and I'm not messing! I'll always run though cause I love every second of it!

Damo 2k9

Chivito550 wrote: »

You could be doing that right now in the shops.

You'd never know either way.

But I have to go the shops, I dont have to go to a race.

Chivito550

IvoryTower wrote: »

I'm fine with people going back racing if they wish when things die down but I wont myself. Missus is high risk so its either gone or much racing is gone.

Might have to take up tennis and I'm not messing! I'll always run though cause I love every second of it!

How is tennis any less of a risk?

Agree that it should be an individual choice. If government allows domestic sport like local athletics meets then each person should be free to decide what they want to do. I'll definitely race if the option is there.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

How is tennis any less of a risk?

Agree that it should be an individual choice. If government allows domestic sport like local athletics meets then each person should be free to decide what they want to do. I'll definitely race if the option is there.

Tennis you can do social distancing in singles matches. Happened a few times in my past🀣

Chivito550

average_runner wrote: »

Tennis you can do social distancing in singles matches. Happened a few times in my past🀣

Hope you have colour coded tennis balls so you know which ones you are allowed to touch

IvoryTower

That is true though. The likelihood is I'll be running alone for a long time imo. Track and road events will have started back up but I'll be waiting until either it's gone or they've figured out how to keep high risk people alive who get it.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

Hope you have colour coded tennis balls so you know which ones you are allowed to touch

A germany study said there is no proof it can be transfer from a surface to a person.

Amount of times the ball would bounce and roll, would it be still on it?

robinph

Chivito550 wrote: »

Hope you have colour coded tennis balls so you know which ones you are allowed to touch

Two colour coded balls each for a private match and you just kick the balls back to each other when each person is serving.

For a professional match then the ball fetching kids have a spray of sanitiser they give to each ball everytime they pick it up before handing it back to the players.

But either method would be incredibly excessive as far as any risks of transmission is concerned, unless we are in a situation where they cough on the balls before handing them to the other player who then licks it clean.

ultrapercy

robinph wrote: »

Two colour coded balls each for a private match and you just kick the balls back to each other when each person is serving.

For a professional match then the ball fetching kids have a spray of sanitiser they give to each ball everytime they pick it up before handing it back to the players.

But either method would be incredibly excessive as far as any risks of transmission is concerned, unless we are in a situation where they cough on the balls before handing them to the other player who then licks it clean.

This would be discrimination of the colour blind...or color blind in the US open. There would be riots outside venus leading to looting, shootings and general mayhem....and people not keeping 2 meters apart.

robinph

The furthest in advance event postponement now is the Womens European Football scheduled for 2021 that has been put back a year.

Now it's actually been pushed back due to clashes with the rescheduled Mens tournament and the Olympics, but still that is a long way in advance that stuff is getting pushed back now.

Chivito550

robinph wrote: »

The furthest in advance event postponement now is the Womens European Football scheduled for 2021 that has been put back a year.

Now it's actually been pushed back due to clashes with the rescheduled Mens tournament and the Olympics, but still that is a long way in advance that stuff is getting pushed back now.

World Athletics Championships was to be August 2021, now July 2022.

average_runner

robinph wrote: »

Two colour coded balls each for a private match and you just kick the balls back to each other when each person is serving.

For a professional match then the ball fetching kids have a spray of sanitiser they give to each ball everytime they pick it up before handing it back to the players.

But either method would be incredibly excessive as far as any risks of transmission is concerned, unless we are in a situation where they cough on the balls before handing them to the other player who then licks it clean.

No need to kick it, just bounce the ball off the ground with the racket.

I remember when we used to play, we got bored one day and served by using the racket to throw the ball up and then serve, pretty simple.

Chivito550

Oslo are putting on an exhibition social distancing meet in place of the diamond league.

Good to see innovation.

https://www.diamondleague.com/news/single-news/news/detail/News/bislett-alliance-launches-impossible-games-in-oslo/

https://www.newstalk.com/sport/warholm-world-record-attempt-headline-oslos-impossible-games-1004917

Chivito550

European Championships in Paris bites the dust now. Not being rescheduled either.

echancrure

John Tracey speaks: https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1253700266618167296 there is hope

Chivito550

echancrure wrote: »

John Tracey speaks: https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1253700266618167296 there is hope

It's the hope that kills.