.jpg)
State Chancellery:
Brīvības boulevard 36, Riga, LV-1520,
vk@mk.gov.lv
Ministry of Economics:
Brīvības Street 55, Riga, LV - 1519,
pasts@em.gov.lv
Ministry of Health:
Brīvības Street 72, Riga, LV-1011,
Inga.sprinke@vm.gov.lv
Ministry of Education and Science:
Valnu Street 2, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia,
info@izm.gov.lv
Restrictions on the operation of sports clubs
Sports clubs are extremely disappointed with the Government's decision to ban sports training (classes) indoors in sports clubs, supplementing the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 360 “Epidemiological safety measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 infection” (hereinafter - the Regulations) with Clause 31.1, which provides: “From 17 October 2020 to 6 November 2020, sports training (classes) shall be organized outdoors, individually or remotely. Changing rooms are not used when organizing group sports trainings (classes) outdoors. The mentioned restriction does not apply to the sports training of adults of the Latvian national team, the Latvian Olympic team and the Latvian Paralympic team, as well as the team sports matches of the highest league teams ”(hereinafter - the Restriction).
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that training in sports clubs is not a team sport where there is constant contact. Group classes in sports clubs are organized by prior appointment or registration, under the guidance and supervision of the coach, the capacity of the gym is reduced to cover a distance of 2 meters, used equipment is disinfected before and after each training, the training mat is disinfected before and after each training, in many in sports clubs, a personal towel is placed as a mandatory requirement and a mat to make even less contact with the equipment.
Since sports clubs resumed their activities after the first Covid-19 outbreak, no official information has been received from the responsible Latvian authorities that any of the sports clubs have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or suspected of being infected with the Covid-19 virus.
Since the opening of the sports clubs after the first Covid-19 outbreak, sports clubs have taken all precautionary measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus and have invested considerable work, resources and finances to provide a safe environment for sports clubs and staff in the country. guidelines and world-renowned measures: including, but not limited to, adherence to a physical distance of 2 meters. Classrooms are equipped with 2-meter markings, ensuring a distance of 2 meters between participants, reduced number of people in the gym, disinfection of mats and other equipment before and after use, use of your own training towel to reduce contact, significantly increased hygiene and disinfection procedures, provided hand and surface disinfectants, including soap and paper towels, non-contact access and a wide range of information. We have ensured that employees and club members wear masks while on the premises of sports clubs, while not exercising. Group coaches not only show the exercises, lead the lesson, but also follow all the necessary norms. Unlike many industries, such as general retail, we are actively pursuing all of these restrictions. The facts clearly show that our safety protocols are working and that the gym is a safe place to work and a safe place to train.
Based on the results of the research presented below, sports clubs are safe and largely non-infectious.
Recent research suggests that gyms have a major impact on people's physical and mental well-being. The survey reveals that 90% of participants are satisfied with the measures and controls in place; 80% of the gym is their only or main activity / exercise; and more than 85% believe that gyms are important for their mental well-being and should remain open if tightened.
From 1 May to 6 August 2020, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) worldwide carefully checked and compared registration data for gym club attendance (number of gym visits) from a number of fitness options such as Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness , Life Time and Orangetheory. After nearly 50 million registrations in that three-month period, the study found that a nominal 0.0023 percent was positive for COVID-19. Strict COVID-19 safety measures are in place in gyms across the country, and there is no evidence that the positive cases have occurred in the gyms themselves.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-study-confirms-its-safe-to-work-out-at-the-gym-current-data-shows-no-evidence-of-covid- 19-spread-in-gyms-301122664.html? Utm_campaign = Coronavirus & utm_content = 139747247 & utm_medium = social & utm_source = facebook & hss_channel = fbp-70887898008 & fbclid = IwAR3Lyr6FvVh7m_J1
But in Scotland, in the face of an increase in Covid-19 infection, the government carefully considered the facts and chose to leave gyms and fitness centers open, explaining the health benefits they provide to society and the very low risk of transmitting the virus.
We believe that this was the right thing to do to balance the right of the population to health (a healthy lifestyle) with the introduction of continuous preventive measures against the spread of the virus.
We would like to emphasize that at the bottom of the sports club and fitness industry are people and businesses, which in 2019 had a turnover of 25 million EURO in Latvia, which makes 5.3 million VAT payments to the state budget. The number of employees paid is more than 1,500, for whom all taxes could be paid if the activity were not restricted. We serve a total of 125,000 customers, which is almost 10% of the total population of Latvia. We are responsible for our actions!
Unfortunately, due to the restrictions adopted by the Government, countless employees who work as group coaches will lose their jobs in sports clubs, because the economic activity of sports clubs is significantly limited.
In addition, please provide clarification and support on how the sports industry, which offers group session subscriptions, will respond to customer requests for a refund for group session subscriptions due to the interruption of group training, which is one of the core services (expected loss for October closing days). as unearned profits account for about 40% of subscription revenue in October). How to pay rent for premises, given that since the Government's decision to ban indoor group classes, many regular customers have applied to the sports club to terminate the subscription / contract because it is not possible to provide the service in its previous volume and form, including the group lessons? From what means to pay downtime benefits to group coaches for the period from 17.10.2020 to 06.11.2020?
In conclusion, we call on the responsible authorities to seriously review and lift the adopted Restriction on the cessation of indoor group activities in sports clubs, taking into account the above facts and description. In the event that the responsible State authorities decide to reject the proposal to lift the Restriction on the organization and conduct of indoor group activities and restrict the sports activities of the population, the State and the responsible authorities will have a clear negative impact on the health of the population. We, as the sports industry, strongly disagree that sport can be one of the risk sectors for the spread of the Covid-19 virus, and we would like to point out that sport and exercise are part of the solution to improving the health of the population and curbing the Covid-19 virus. spread.
In view of all the above, we invite you to amend Clause 31.1 of the Regulations to read as follows: requirements, either outdoors, individually or remotely. Changing rooms are not used when organizing group sports trainings (classes) outdoors. This restriction does not apply to sports training for adults of the Latvian national team, the Latvian Olympic team and the Latvian Paralympic team, as well as the team sports of the highest league teams. ”
