The guidelines regarding the measures related to sports, which are valid from December 6, 2021, were announced by the Cyprus Sports Organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, following the decisions of the Council of Ministers and the relevant decree dated December 3, 2021 (KDP 497/2021).
In a statement, the CMO states that for all cases of sport (training in open and closed facilities as well as competitions) the following applies:
(a) for persons aged 6 to 11 years, it is required to show either a negative laboratory test or a rapid antigen detection test for the disease. COVID-19 with the sampling having taken place within 7 days, or a certificate of recovery from his illness COVID-19 valid for six months from the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis,
(b) persons aged 12 to 17 years are required to show either a negative laboratory test or a rapid antigen detection test for their disease COVID-19 with the sampling completed within 72 hours, or a certificate of integrated vaccination for the disease COVID-19, or a certificate of recovery from his illness COVID-19, valid for six months from the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis,
(c) persons 18 years of age and older are required to show either a comprehensive vaccination certificate for the disease COVID-19, or a certificate of recovery from his illness COVID-19, valid for six months from the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis, either a negative laboratory test with the sampling done within 72 hours, or a negative rapid antigen detection test for the disease COVID-19 with sampling completed within 48 hours.
Exercise / Training
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Regarding the sport that takes place in indoor sports facilities such as gyms and dance schools, the CMO clarifies that it is allowed on the basis of square and specific (1 person / 8 square) meters, provided there is a safe pass, as described above. The use of locker rooms and similar facilities is not allowed, except for locker rooms and similar facilities of gyms, the operation of which is allowed only until 4:00 p.m. and based on the square meters of space and specifically, 1 person / 20 square meters.
In indoor sports facilities where contact sports (such as martial arts) are held, as well as non-contact sports, sports / training based on square meters is allowed (1 person 8 square meters) and a maximum of 20 people per training room, provided there is safe pass, as described above.
Team training academies such as basketball, volleyball, etc. that are held in indoor sports facilities, are allowed on the basis of square (1 person per 8 square meters) and a maximum of 40 people per training room for rooms up to 800 square meters and 60 people per training room for rooms over 800 square meters, excluding coaches.
The CMO clarifies that the sport must be conducted in groups that do not exceed 20 people and without interaction between the groups.
Individual and team sports academies (eg football / basketball / volleyball as well as tennis), which are held outdoors, are permitted provided that the athletes do not exceed twenty 20 people, excluding the coach / s per facility. For sports conducted on large soccer fields, the total number of persons per sports facility may not exceed sixty (60) persons, excluding coaches. It is clarified that the sport should be conducted in groups that do not exceed 20 people and without interaction between the groups.
In the Archery outdoor sports facilities, it is allowed to train athletes, provided that they do not exceed 60 people per facility.
In the Shooting sports facilities, training is allowed in teams that do not exceed eight (8) people, including the coach, per sports facility.
In futsal outdoor sports facilities, team training / play is allowed, provided that the athletes do not exceed 18 people in case of use of three (3) 5 @ 5 courts, 14 people in case of use of two (2) 5 @ 5 courts, and the 12 people in case of use of one (1) field 5 @ 5 and provided there is a safe pass. It is noted that the training / sports will take place without the use of locker rooms and without the provision of gloves and badges and based on a protocol which has been approved by the Ministry of Health and has been published on May 16, 2021.
According to the CMO, for outdoor and indoor racing swimming pools and given that there are racing routes, the simultaneous presence of fifteen (15) athletes per route is allowed for 50m long tanks, and eight athletes per route for 25m long tanks, as well as and one (1) trainer per route and 6 support staff (lifeguards, security supervisors, etc.) per tank. In case there are no races in the swimming pool, but also in smaller tanks, individual training is allowed based on the square meters and specifically eight (8) square meters per person.
In addition, the CMO states that water polo training is allowed with a maximum number of people per swimming pool, 20 people in a 25-meter swimming pool, and 34 people in a 50-meter swimming pool, provided there is a safer pass, as described in the safest pass. above (in both open and closed swimming pools).
For the sport of Classic Sports, it is allowed in outdoor track and field facilities, the training of athletes not exceeding six (6) persons per team, including the coach, provided that the total number of persons per sports facility does not exceed eighty (80 ) faces.
It is emphasized that, both in indoor and outdoor training, the use of a protective mask by coaches / trainers is mandatory. It is understood that the non-use of a mask by the coaches / trainers is allowed in case they train / exercise together with the Athletes.
Conducting Games
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For the conduct of competitions, according to the COM, a necessary condition is the creation of a specific protocol by the Federation or the organizer which will be approved by the Health Services of the Ministry of Health.
For the Swimming and Athletics competitions, the protocol published on May 8, 2021 continues to apply and the maximum number of simultaneous presence of people per facility is 100 people.
For Archery competitions, in stadiums that meet the specifications of the Federation for holding the Olympic Archery competition for men and women, the simultaneous presence of 80 people per facility is allowed.
For all the other sports described above the competitions will be held under the same conditions as the exercise / training.
In addition, the presence of spectators is allowed for the conduct of matches, as specified in the decree of the day. December 3, 2021 (KDP 497/2021).
It is also clarified that the use of locker rooms is allowed during the games.
According to the CMO, the above list of facilities is not exhaustive. In cases where there is an intention to hold games in facilities not mentioned above, the maximum number of participants will be determined in cooperation with the Cyprus Sports Organization and the Ministry of Health, in proportion to the above numbers.
Finally, the CMO states that these directives are complementary and do not replace the obligations imposed by the Infectious Diseases Act and the relevant Decrees issued.