World Athletics has published a number of health and safety recommendations designed to help competition organizers minimize the risks of the spread of coronavirus when holding outdoor events at the stadium.
The guidelines, developed by the World Athletics Department of Health and Science, also relate to the post-peak period described by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are based on scientific and medical research on the Covid-19 virus.
The new document contains recommendations for professional athletes, support staff, technical officials, the workforce, volunteers, medical staff and the media. Although it does not contain rules regarding spectators, WHO has prepared a document and tools for assessing the risks of mass gatherings.
The organizers of the competition are recommended to conduct a four-point risk assessment for all accredited participants. If a person scores two points or higher, it is recommended that they undergo a medical examination before the event.
Other recommendations include:
Preliminary event
Welcome tables organized by local Organizing committees (LOC) at airports or train stations should provide each arrival with a welcome package that includes disposable masks (at least three per day), bottles of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and a leaflet explaining the health and safety rules for this particular event.
When transporting from the airport or train station to hotels, all passengers and drivers must wear masks and sit at an appropriate distance from each other. In addition, one-way traffic flows should be used to avoid mixing people. It is also strongly recommended to organize and use a special medical register recorded in an electronic system to facilitate the identification and further contact of potentially infected persons.
At the stadium
The audience and accredited staff should have two completely separate entrances, and the streams should not overlap. Accredited personnel should only have access to the competition venue if they wear a face mask and have their own personal hand sanitizer. Face masks must be worn by everyone present at the stadium, with the exception of athletes when they warm up or compete. Warm-up areas should be large open areas within walking distance of the competition stadium, and access to them should be strictly controlled. Athletes must be invited to enter the warm-up area according to a specific schedule. All accredited employees must wear a mask and wash their hands before entering the warm-up areas or special toilets. Masks should also be worn in the call rooms, which should be located outdoors. It is also necessary to disinfect the chairs between each use.
At the competition
The number of people on the field should be kept to a minimum, and officials who will come into close contact with athletes should wear safety glasses or a plastic protective mask, in addition to their mask. After athletes have crossed the finish line, they should try to keep their distance from the public and officials.
Specific guidance for individual disciplines:
– The starting blocks must be cleared before each race;
– Chlorine must be added to the diving pool during the steeplechase;
– batons must be disinfected before each use, and relay teams must be prevented from gathering or hugging after the race;
– the use of hand sanitizer should be recommended before each attempt at vertical jumps;
– Officials should clean the landing mat before each jump using a mop and a virulent solution, or use a thin layer of recyclable plastic or fabric that can be placed on the jumping mat-
sand in jumping pits should be mixed with a solution containing a biodegradable and non-aggressive virulent agent to the skin;
– People who work with throwing tools should clean their hands or use disposable gloves after each use;
– for all-around athletes, the room used by athletes to recover between disciplines should be as open as possible. Coaches should be encouraged to interact with their athletes using electronic devices.
After the competition
Media areas should also be outside, if possible, and the number of people in this field should be kept to a minimum. A plexiglass screen should be installed between athletes and the media, which should be cleaned after each interview, and separate interview boxes should be used if there are several positions. Without screens, when journalists interview athletes, a three-meter dead zone should be adopted, and both sides should use masks.
To keep the number of people on the playing field to a minimum, live award ceremonies are not recommended, but alternative digital solutions are encouraged.
After the end of the competition, a thorough disinfection procedure must be carried out.
The full manual can be downloaded below. This document is dynamic and will be updated as new evidence and scientific knowledge become available.
in-stadium-outdoor-athletics-competition-co.pdf
