IOC share information on establishing guidelines related to return to training and event preparation
The IOC has shared a circular letter signed by the Medical and Scientific Department and NOC Relations Department, with useful information on how to establish proper guidelines for sports events organisers or for athletes and National Federations related to the steps to return to training and event preparation.
A key element identified in the letter is the WHO Risk Assessment for Sport Events and Considerations for sports federations/sports event organizers when planning mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/points-of-entry-and-mass-gatherings.
While many countries continue to enforce restrictions on mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19, for the sports organisers in countries where the re-opening of mass gatherings is being considered, any decisions made n this regard should be based on a risk assessment, such as the WHO Mass gatherings COVID-19 risk assessment.
The IOC also shared detailed links to the various WHO tools as below:
• Access the publication
• Access the tool
• Access the decision tree
• Access the publication for sports federations / sports event organizers (uploaded 15 April 2020)
• Access the tool for sports federations/sports event organizers (uploaded 15 April 2020)
The IOC also revealed that it is creating a reference library of guidelines on Athlete365, including those of the WHO, NOCs and IFs, which will be available and communicated to all NOCs shiortly. In addition the IOC Medical and Scientific Department is also currently creating an additional dedicated section of the IOC website to collate scientific papers and articles on COVID-19 and sport.
