One step closer to the audience: "We must be prepared"

For almost a year, the sports world has been forced to be regulated due to the corona pandemic.

The current participation ceiling of eight people is the same regardless of which public gathering or public event it is about.

Which means that a football match at Friends arena or a cross-country skiing competition in the forest is regulated in the same way as a floorball match in a cramped indoor hall or a clothing store.

But now the government is presenting a consultation proposal that will enable the restrictions to be adapted based on the event in question.

Divided into four categories

The consultation proposal, which has a consultation period until 26 February, lists four categories: indoor events, indoor events with seating, outdoor events and exercise races.

It opens, for example, larger exercise races in, for example, running and orienteering and audiences at sporting events.

- We propose a number of overall requirements that are similar to other activities that are regulated in this.

The business must be able to ensure that you can keep your distance at, for example, in and out passages and then we believe that there should also be a participation limit, says Amanda Lind to SVT Sport.

- In addition, we ask the Public Health Agency that they should have the opportunity to issue more detailed regulations such as what applies to gyms today where one takes into account an arena or the size of a facility.

Should hold audience advice

But at present it is difficult to say when the new proposal may come into force.

- We have not come out with any dates for this proposal.

We will also hold an audience council so that all different types of organizers can give their views.

Then we must be prepared.

As soon as possible, the government will make a decision.

These are very strict restrictions that should not go beyond what is necessary, says Amanda Lind.

RF positive

Björn Eriksson, chairman of the Swedish Sports Confederation, is positive about the new proposal.

- It is a step in the right direction that we are now seeing attempts to increase accuracy regarding public gatherings and public events.

We now need to read the proposal in order to be able to assess in more detail what the proposals really mean for the sports movement.

We assume that the sports movement, which so far can make its voice heard in dialogue with the Swedish Public Health Agency when restrictive measures are to be developed, says Björn Eriksson in a press release.