The following statement has been posted on the England Athletics website:
“Coronavirus Statement: last updated 29 April at 13:15
Following the further restrictions on movement put in place by the UK Government, UKA and the Home Country Athletics Federations have made the following updates to our previous statement – originally issued on 17 March:
- Extending the suspension of all athletics activity in England to the 31 May. [Initially this had been agreed to the end of April]. This suspension includes all organised athletics activity in the UK, including all formal club activities, running groups, and all Education activity (coach, official, teacher).
- Additional suspension specific to athletics competitions in England to 30 June. [Initially this was incorporated into the above overarching suspension to the end of May but the suspension of licensed competition activity has now been extended – announced 29 April 2020].
- Strengthening our position on coaching activity – We are now mandating that all physical coaching ceases, and only be conducted via virtual means during this period. Bringing groups of people together to train, however small, can no longer be permitted under the strict ‘Stay at home’ measures implemented by the UK Government.
These decisions have not been taken lightly and have been made in light of the continuing and real risk to life and to the NHS posed by the spread of the COVID-19 virus in England. We must now to all we can do. We would ask that the athletics community in England continues to help one another by staying connected and supportive of each other whilst at home in these unprecedented times. We will continue to review the situation in line with Government and Public Health guidance.
In addition to providing clarity to clubs, athletes, runners, coaches and officials, we are acutely aware that a number of competition providers have already made the bold decision to postpone their events in recognition that they stand to incur additional contractual costs on facilities that they have booked should they not make that decision now. We will continue to review this decision as the government guidance evolves but one thing is clear and that is that athletics, running and sport in general is special and is an important contributor to our way of life but it is very much secondary to protecting and saving lives at this current time”.
You can read the most up-to-date statements from England Athletics here.