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Herald Reporter

Government has gazetted the legal provisions allowing the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to classify sporting activities by risk of Covid-19 infection, permit low-risk sport events, and telling sports associations how to apply for exemptions for low-risk activity.

The announcement of exemption of low-risk sporting activities was made by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo under the lockdown provisions, with the Sports Minister having the final say on what is allowed and the conditions that need to be applied.

This activates the policy announced by President Mnangagwa to permit, during the indefinite level 2 lockdown, low-risk sports activity.

The regulations define low-risk sport to mean any non-contact sport where compliance with the social distancing rule is possible, and would be classified by the Sports Minister, taking into account World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“The Sports Minister shall specify sport codes in which all sports are classified according to whether they are low-risk, medium-risk or high-risk sports.

When the classification is ready, those responsible will be told.

Then those who represent athletes and associated sports, staff who wish to train, exercise or compete in any low-risk sports, must obtain the approval beforehand of the Sports Ministry for the competition to take place by applying in writing through the Sports and Recreation Commission to the Minister.

The applications has to give all relevant particulars of the proposed event or events, including the nature of the low-risk sport, the names of those officiating, the venue and times of the event, and the names of the athletes and staff members. The application must also give particulars of proposed measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

If spectators may be allowed at the competition, then the applicant has to detail the measures to observe social distancing.

The regulations also stipulate that the sporting discipline should start at between 8am and 4:30pm.