The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has released its AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment to help Australians safely return to sport during the current pandemic.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the AIS, David Hughes said the Institute had played a central role in developing the Return to Sport National Guiding Principles endorsed by National Cabinet last Friday (8 May), which was in step with the AIS Framework.
Dr Hughes said the AIS had developed the Framework in collaboration with sport CMOs around Australia, in consultation with the Federal Government’s CMOs and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), as the guide for the reintroduction of sport and recreation following the pandemic.
He said Federal, State and Territory public health authorities would ultimately determine when sport and recreation resumed.
National Cabinet was to consider further measures this week as part of a broader package, he said.
“Sport organisations and participants are being faced with complex decisions regarding resumption of training and competition in the current circumstances,” Dr Hughes said.
“The AIS Framework covers all levels of sport from community participation to high-performance competition, guiding sporting organisations and individuals on how to resume sporting activity in a cautious and methodical manner.
“A key principle guiding the creation of the Framework has been to ensure the resumption of sport does not endanger the health of the community.
“Australia enjoys the many benefits of a rich sporting culture,” Dr Hughes said.
“There is abundant evidence that sport delivers physical, psychological and emotional benefits to participants. Sport can play a crucial role at this time, in assisting the Australian community recover some sense of normality in a COVID-19 environment.”
He said the AIS Framework recommended a staged approach in any return to sport, with each stage — Level A, B and C — requiring a range of risk management considerations, including an analysis of safe environments and education of participants.
The AIS Framework also provides detailed consideration of the differences across all sports including contact and non-contact sport, indoor and outdoor activity, along with a sport-by-sport guide to return to play.
The Institute’s 24-page Framework can be accessed at this PS News link.
