Discussion: Guidelines

Players, visitors and officials should minimise physical contact as much as is practicable, for example ... no pre- or post-match celebrations and no celebrating between players during the match.

Oh noes, how will I celebrate my impending victory after this weekend's sprint race with no celebrations allowed?

It is recommended that sporting teams, including school sporting teams, maintain local competitions only, with no inter-district, or inter-club travel.

This weekend's event is organised by KO and while technically I'm a BO member, I live in KO territory so am I allowed to travel to their venue?? The following event is in LOST territory but I mapped it so that should be fine shouldn't it???

Have just sent the following out to states.

The OA Board has considered the updated advice on community sport provided today by the Australian Government (https://www.sportaus.gov.au/media_centre/news/mini...). The main new Government recommendation which is relevant to orienteering is the avoidance of inter-district travel; other recommendations are either incorporated in existing guidance or not relevant to orienteering.

OA recommends that State Associations suspend State League/OY (or equivalent) events, except where they are taking place in a metropolitan region and are not expected to draw significant attendance from outside that region (e.g. Orienteering ACT events held in the ACT).

Metropolitan area events, and local events run by regional clubs which are primarily targeted to members of those clubs, are able to continue under existing guidance, should State Associations/clubs wish to do so.

The elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are at greatest risk. Competitors over the age of 70, and those with underlying medical conditions, should reconsider their attendance at events.

You will be aware that numerous other sports have suspended all competitions. Orienteering is in a better position than most sports to carry out social distancing recommendations, because of its nature as an individual non-contact sport taking place over large areas of terrain. Nonetheless we are continuing to assess the situation and updated Government guidance and will provide updated recommendations as and when required.

States may also wish to consider what opportunities they have for permanent or virtual courses. Experience from some overseas countries is that there is significant demand for such opportunities once regular competitions cease. Whilst OA is interested in the number of people who partake of such opportunities, they will not be considered events for OA levy purposes.

Bendigo has applied an extrapolation to the advice history and cancelled events from after next Tuesday. Quite a few organisers are in the higher risk group.

I actually think that we (OA and states) should do likewise, even though probably in the end the motto "every little helps" will turn out to be not enough.

SWOT has cancelled their urban events, I agree with Jenny and Bendigo.

Time to act is now

Stay safe everyone

The two sprint events following Sunday's (which currently is still on) in WA have both been cancelled as the schools withdrew permission, and the sprint championships scheduled for September won't go ahead - at this stage.

Tasmania just imposed 14 day quarantine on any 'non-essential' interstate visitors. I would think that WA will probably do the same.

I agree with Jenny LOST Richard and Bendigo. Even though we are a "spaced out" sport the funnels of Start and Finish and the volunteers that attend those areas are being put at risk, no matter what the measures taken.

UK has suspended events for 12 weeks.

I see the guidelines only apply to 'community sport' as the article states, given the amount of in-game celebrations the AFL players are still insisting on doing. Though given the nature of the sport, abstaining from celebrating isn't going to make all that much difference (abstaining from holding matches on the other hand... but then what will happen to the industry and, heaven forbid, the sports betting market????)

I had a quick look at today's match on tv to see what it was like without a crowd. Very similar to watching a WAFL match, except with ads.