Saxony’s sport wants guarantees from the state government

–

Leipzig. Before the Saxon state parliament held a special session on Monday to discuss the fight against the coronavirus and other measures in the Free State, the State Sports Association (LSB) made an urgent appeal to the state government. Despite the serious infection situation, organized sport should not come to a complete standstill, the letter said.

And further: “With all understanding for the necessary and in some cases very tough restrictions and measures to contain the pandemic, a comprehensive sports lockdown can in no way contribute to keeping the population healthy.”

In the currently applicable Corona Emergency Ordinance, sport is already severely restricted, de facto there has been a lockdown for amateur and recreational athletes in Saxony since November 22nd. Only professionals and cadre athletes as well as under 16-year-olds are allowed to continue training and also compete – but without a spectator.

According to Paragraph 13 of the ordinance, public traffic in the sports facilities is not permitted; fitness studios, indoor swimming pools and dance schools are also closed, with a few exceptions, for business sports, among other things. The LSB stresses that those who suffer are those who are active in youth, health and popular sports.

Now the state sports association, which has around 656,000 members in 4,436 sports clubs, fears further restrictions. “Another standstill, especially in youth and health sport, cannot and must not be a solution,” warns the LSB and calls for a popular sport guarantee. In the past few months, elaborate hygiene concepts have impressively demonstrated that organized sport can also take place in corona times without becoming a pandemic driver.

“Doing sports together is an important social anchor in these difficult times, especially for children and young people, but also for adults and the older generation,” says LSB President Ulrich Franzen. Especially in the age group of seven to eleven year olds, sport is an elementary component for developing motor skills. “If this ‘golden’ learning age is not used, it can lead to lifelong deficits,” he warns and emphasizes at the same time: “This learning age cannot be postponed due to corona.”

According to LSB, the effects of the lockdown in 2020 are already massively visible in sport. On the one hand, young and popular athletes have suffered both physically and mentally from the lack of exercise, and on the other hand there has been a decline in membership in the clubs – especially in the group of up to 14-year-olds.

Franzens demand: “From our point of view, sport must be part of the solution. A further standstill of the system not only causes existential problems for the voluntarily organized nationwide sports operations in the Free State, but also increases lack of understanding and displeasure on the part of the active people.” The LSB therefore advocates smaller training groups or a 3G, 2G or 2GPlus rule in order to be able to resume sports activities or to be able to continue in the junior segment.

–