ASA temporary suspends all athletics activities in South Africa
Frustration and uncertainty continue to grow in athletics ranks, after Athletics South Africa earlier this week suspended all forms of athletics activities until further notice.
Due to the worsening health situation caused by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, Athletics South Africa (ASA) has taken the decision to suspend all athletics activities in the country for the next two weeks.
The decision affects the ASA Cross Country Trials which were scheduled for Potchefstroom this weekend Saturday 23 January 2021, which are now also postponed indefinitely. A new date will be determined and announced in due course.
“The federation had hoped that resumption of our normal 2021 events calendar would by now had been possible, but unfortunately we now have to deal with high infection rates in the country,” ASA said in a press release on Monday.
According to ASA, the major concern is that the new Covid 19 strain seems to be more rampant than the initial one in the first wave and thus is affecting a large number of young people. President Ramaphosa described the state of the pandemic in South Africa as now being at its most devastating.
“ASA cannot ignore the dire situation that we find ourselves in as a nation highlighted by the worsening infection and increasing death rate. It is, therefore, in the interest of saving lives that ASA is now suspending all athletics events for the next two weeks,” ASA explained in the statement.
The athletics governing body will review this decision after 7 February 2021 in line with government pronouncements and in continued consultation with medical experts and relevant government departments.
Training is permitted under ASA safety protocols as already pronounced, but attention is drawn to the State President’s declaration that most indoor and outdoor gatherings will not be permitted given the risk of widespread transmission. This includes social gatherings, religious gatherings, political events, traditional council meetings and gatherings at sports grounds.
“We hope the situation will improve soon for us to resume our full calendar after the next two weeks, ASA concluded.
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