Following the decisions of the Council of Ministers and the relevant decree of 28 May 2021 (CCI 230/2021), the Cyprus Sports Organisation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, announces the following guidelines regarding the measures relating to sport, which will apply from 1 June 2021.
Conduct of Training:
-Regarding the sport that takes place in closed sports facilities such as gyms and dance schools, it is specified that this is allowed on the basis of square meters and in particular, 1 person / 10 square meters, provided there is a safe pass. It is recalled that the use of locker rooms and similar infrastructure is prohibited.
-In closed sports facilities where contact sports are held (such as martial arts), sports/training is allowed based on squares (1 person / 10 square meters) and a maximum of 20 people per training room, subject to the existence of a safe pass. It is clarified that for children 12 years of age and older it is necessary to have a safe pass and for children under 12 years of age, a strict recommendation is made to carry out a rapid test of 72 hours.
-Team sports academy training (e.g. football/basketball) held in outdoor facilities are permitted provided that the athletes do not exceed sixteen 16 persons including the coach(s) per
facility. For training sessions of academies held on major football fields, the total number of persons per sports facility may not exceed twenty-four (24) persons. It is stressed that, for training purposes, for children 12 years of age and older it is necessary to carry out a rapid test on at least weekly basis and for the purpose of matches, it is necessary to have a rapid test 72 hours before the match (from 16 June when matches will be allowed).
- In outdoor sports facilities futsal, team training / play is allowed, as long as the athletes do not exceed 18 people in case of use of three (3) 5@5 stadiums, 14 persons in case of use of two (2) 5@5 stadiums, and 12 persons in case of use of one (1) field 5@5 and subject to the existence of a safe pass. Please note that the training/exercise will take place without the use of locker rooms and without the provision of gloves and badges and on the basis of a protocol which has been approved by the Ministry of Health and published on 16 May 2021.
- For outdoor and closed swimming pools 50m long or 25m long and since there are racing routes in them, the simultaneous presence of eight (8) people per route and up to three (3) coaches per swimming pool is permitted.
In case there are no racing routes in the swimming pool, but also in smaller tanks, individual training is allowed based on squares and specifically 10 square meters per person. In addition, water polo training is allowed with a maximum number of people per swimming pool of 20 people in a 25-metre swimming pool, and 34 people in a 50-metre swimming pool, provided there is a safe pass (both in open and closed swimming pools).
-For Track and Field training, the maximum number of simultaneous presence of people per installation is increased to 60 people.
It is stressed that, both indoor and outdoor training, it is necessary for coaches/trainers to use a protective mask. It is understood that the non-use of a mask by the coaches/trainers is permitted if they train/exercise with the athletes.
Games: From 1 June 2021,
-non-contact sports competitions (such as Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Fencing, Badminton, Ping Pong, etc.) are allowed in closed facilities, 1 person per 10 square meters and a specific protocol that should be drawn up by the competent Federation and approved by the Health Services of the Ministry of Health. It is recalled that the use of clothing lockers/changing rooms and similar infrastructure is prohibited.
- For Swimming and Athletics competitions, the protocol published on 8 May 2021 continues to apply but the maximum number of simultaneous presence of persons per installation is increased to 100 people.
It is also clarified that, for all other sports for which no reference is made, the Protocol published on 8 May 2021 continues to apply.
From 16 June it will be allowed:
-The holding of matches/games between indoor and open-air team sports academies (football, basketball, handball, volleyball, etc.) as well as indoor contact sports (karate, wrestling, etc.) with a safe pass for children over 12 years of age and a strict recommendation to conduct a rapid test 72 hours before the match for children under 12 years of age.
The conduct of water polo matches with a prerequisite for the existence of a safe pass and on the basis of a protocol to be drawn up by the competent Federation and approved by the Health Services of the Ministry of Health.
-The holding of races of a social nature (Marathons, Triathlon, etc.) subject to the existence of a safe pass, a maximum number of participants and a protocol to be drawn up by the organizer and approved by the Health Services of the Ministry of Health.
-It should be clarified that, for persons 12 years of age or older who, whether sporting in indoor sports facilities, participating in contact sports or taking part in sporting events (matches), the possession of a Safe pass (either a negative laboratory test or a rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 disease with sampling carried out within 72 hours) is required; either a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 disease at least at one dose and provided that a period of three weeks has passed after the date of vaccination, or evidence of release in the case of persons ill with COVID-19 and provided that no period of six months has passed since the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis).
For other cases of sport in open sports facilities, persons 12 years of age or older shall be required to have either a negative laboratory test or a rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 disease on a weekly basis, either a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 disease at least at one dose and provided that a period of three weeks has passed after the date of vaccination, or evidence of release in cases of persons sick with COVID-19 and provided that no period of six months has passed since the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis.
