ATHLETICS TO RETURN TO TRAINING AND COMPETITION FROM NOVEMBER

19 Oct ATHLETICS TO RETURN TO TRAINING AND COMPETITION FROM NOVEMBER

Athletics South Africa will resume training and controlled competition activity from 1 November
2020 under the government’s strict Covid-19 medical and safety protocols of the National Disaster
Act.

Running events are back but will be limited to distances of not more than 10km and this includes
road running, park runs, cross country and trail running. Races over longer distances are regarded
as high-risk events and are therefore not allowed. A maximum of 500 athletes will be allowed for
road running, cross-country, trail running and park runs.

For track and field, the maximum number of participants at a competition venue at any given time
will also not exceed 500 (including athletes, technical officials, volunteers, medical team,
media/broadcasting team (where relevant) and stadium workers). At both running and track &
field events, no spectators will be allowed. All rules and restrictions pertaining to the allowed
events will be reviewed at the end of December 2020 in consultation with the Sports and Health
Departments.

During the period of 1 November to 31 December 2020, only licensed athletes will be allowed to
compete in ASA accredited events and this includes temporary licensed athletes. Temporary
licenses will be issued at provincial level at least 48 hours before competition to prevent a large
gathering seeking licenses on race day.

Events that normally take place during the December festive season have not been approved due
to the high risk of Covid-19 infections. And with regards to return to training, only athletes in
possession of a licence will be allowed to commence with training to prepare for their events. All
access to training facilities are subject to compliance to the Covid-19 regulations at each training
facility. More information in this regard will be announced in due course.

“We are also entering a new era as an athletics family in the country as we begin to claw our way
back to an unknown future under a new order of sporting life,” said Aleck Skhosana, President of
ASA. “However, while we look at returning to partial activity under the new order of things, let us
not forget that the priority is still to first save lives since the Corona virus is still very much with us.

“Where relevant, staggered starts will be employed to mitigate big groups and in the case of
running events, one water point with ample water tables will be permitted and will be manned by
masked volunteers who will be required to sanitise their hands after every group of runners has
passed. All water sachets will be pre-ordered (at least 72 hours), treated and safely kept until race
day.

“The volunteers who handle the sachets will wear gloves and will be screened accordingly. This
means volunteers and race marshals will be trained in the Covid protocols, and will enforce
acceptable social distancing and make sure water bottles are not shared. Only water sachets that
are supplied at the official water stations by the trained marshals or volunteers will be allowed.”