Bangladesh government has decided on Monday to resume sports activities limitedly across the country for the first time since late March, when all sorts of sporting activities got postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
“Organising sports events and holding training activities can start in limited scale by following health and safety rules,” said a media release from Youth and Sports Ministry after it consulted Ministry of health and family welfare.
On March 16, the ministry recommended postponing all kinds of sporting activities in Bangladesh after it had confirmed first Covid-19 patient a week earlier.
The decision of allowing sports returning to field albeit in a limited manner came through an emergency meeting of Sports ministry at the Secretariat.
Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, State Minister for Youth and Sports, stated after the sit-ups, “Due to fall of spread of corona many countries resume sports and training activities following safety rules. Infection rate is downward in our country too,”
“In this regard, we asked for opinions from Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Health department gave 10 rules to maintain while organizing sports and training activities in limited scale.” the State Minister added in the press release.
The postponement of sporting activities for almost five months resulted many athletes running out of fitness and their income sources too come to a standstill. Russel said that the government has provided 4 crores taka in two phases to some 5,000 athletes, sports persons and organisers who struggled due to Covid-19. He also informed that Prime Minister also allotted Tk 10 crores more to stand beside the athletes.
No official sporting activities has begun so far except in football. The national team’s preliminary training camp for the World Cup qualifiers kicked off on August 5 through four stages of Covid-19 check-ups are taken place since then. The residential camp has been started with individual training in Gazipur.
Archery federation is also resuming its national practice camp in Tongi on Friday. Its general secretary Kazi Razib Uddin Ahmed Chapol told Dhaka Tribune, “Very happy to get the permission. We are trying to bring all archers to Dhaka by Friday to start the training camp by following health and safety rules.”
Cricketers also started individual training under special arrangement but without any testing procedure. Bangladesh Cricket Board is planning to resume group and team practice but it is still a plan in progress.
Cricketers to return to training https://t.co/11OW9VGsrG
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 10, 2020
The 10 rules to hold sports events and training activities
1. Before opening the field and practice facilities, it should be equipped with pandemic preventive equipments such as mask, gloves, sanitizers and non contact infrared thermometer and have a set of regulations and plan. An individual should be appointed to execute, monitor and maintain the standard. All officials concerned should be trained of the heath regulations.
2. The training and games should be held in a limited manner.
3. Players, coaches, management committee and everyone else involved should undergo tests. Everyone should undergo Covid-19 test ahead of the camp if required.
4. Accommodation and training facilities for the players should be maintained following the health regulations. The food provided to the players should be nutritious and hygienic. The players should maintain social distance while dining and the cutleries should be properly sterilized. Using disposable cutleries is encouraged and smoking should be discouraged. Proper sleep, rest and mental health of the players should be ensured. Digital/online facilities for the players to communicate with family and friends should be arranged in the facility.
5. Players should use personal water bottle and towels during game and training. All personal belonging should be kept in a personal bag. Tissue, handkerchief and other used materials such as plaster, bandage etc should be immediately and properly disposed.
6. Games can be arranged by ensuring that not many people have gathered. The spectators should maintain a minimum one-meter distance from each other. The spectators should maintain enough distance while taking seat inside the stadium. A seat should be kept empty between two spectators.
7. Arrangement must be in place to check body temperature of the players, coaches, management staff and spectators while entering the field. In this case if any individual is found with a temperature of more than 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the person should be barred from entering the field and should be sent to the nearest healthcare center for checkup.
8. Any player, coach/trainer and member of the management team showing Covid-19 symptoms should be isolated immediately.
9.Regular cleaning of the grounds and training facilities should be ensured and the garbage storage containers should be disinfected every day.
10. Billboard, radio, video or posters on health awareness should be clearly visible to those entering the facilities.