Sports without physical contact will be allowed after ECQ

Sports that require no physical contacts may be allowed to be played after the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Covid-19 is studying which sports activities will be given exemptions when the government social distancing measure enters a less strict phase, which is the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

“May mga sports naman na na-oobserve ang social distancing, pinag-aaralan naman yan ng IATF,” said Año in an interview over radio station DZMM yesterday, April 30.

Among the sports mentioned were racquet sports like tennis and badminton and golf. 

“May mga members din ng IATF na naglalaro ng golf, so alam din nila yan,” added Año.

Practitioners of other non-contact sports like cycling and running are also hoping to get exemptions. “Keep praying, we’re one step closer,” said triathlon coach Ringo Borlain in his social media post.

Some essential industries will be given permission to open areas that are now under GCQ but mass-gathering like sports and fitness activities like training, games and tournaments will remain banned until further notice.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in line with the government’s quarantine program to fight Covid-19 pandemic, has cancelled all tournaments for this year, including the Asean PARA Games that was initially set in August and later on reset to November.

Año said though that physical fitness will continue to be an important aspect “in our daily lives” and also a good tool to fight the corona virus.

“Hindi naman tayo absolute sa IATF, we will look into the possibility of giving out exemptions.”