26/05/2020 0 0

From Athletics NI

As the cases of Coronavirus increase across Northern Ireland, Athletics NI have put together some useful information below to help assist our clubs, athletes, coaches and officials during this time.

This page will be updated on a regular basis, to reflect the latest guidance from the Government and Public Health Authority.

Current Status for Athletics in Northern Ireland

Following previous statements on 17^th March and 24^th March, Athletics Northern Ireland, in collaboration with the other Home Country Athletics Federations and UKA, can confirm that the suspension period relating specifically to athletics competition has been extended until at least the 30^th June.

We have collectively taken the decision to extend the suspension of competition activity due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and in recognition that event organisers, clubs, athletes, officials and coaches need clarity, advanced notice and time to plan.

Whilst all licensed competition events across athletics scheduled up to 30^th June 2020 are suspended, we will continue to review the wider suspension of all other athletics activity outside of competition (currently set to 31^st May 2020). We will wait for a further announcement from the government in relation to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown period, expected during week commencing 4^th May, before further reviewing and updating on the current suspension period covering all other athletics activity.

Updated on 29th April 2020 at 11am

While athletics is predominantly an outdoor sport that allows athletes to exercise in the fresh air, the message to all of us is clear, we must play our part in containing the spread of COVID-19. We urge our members to utilise the opportunity to exercise as laid out by both governments, but as such, any informal small group training sessions of athletes or face-to-face coached sessions must now cease (*unless they are with your own household members).

Advice on Social Distancing

Sport NI Support

Sport NI Wellbeing Hub

Sport NI have been working with Inspire Wellbeing to develop the Sport Wellbeing Hub, an online resource hub around Mental Health and Wellbeing for sports, which provides a fantastic range of innovative tools and resources, which will help is deal with the challenges we are all experiencing at this time, including:

Guided self-assessment via ‘Chatbot’;
Self-help programmes and digital intervention tools;
Searchable ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ map;
Wellbeing information library; and
Video content featuring some of our sporting heroes talking about mental health.

Sport Wellbeing Hub