The current regulations also restrict the organisers to one refreshment table , which again defies logic , and also contradicts ASA ’ s own rules that require tables at no more than 3km intervals . This relaxation to a single table is being applied going into South Africa ’ s hottest and most humid months , and the KZNA rules even stipulate tables at 2.5km intervals due to these adverse conditions in that province . Clearly , if an organiser can solve the COVID challenge for the first table , then every table thereafter is an easier solution , and restricting races to one table is therefore increasing the risk of other medical problems outside COVID considerations . |
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These are widely-known common sense facts that suggest that the regulations proposed to the Ministry of Sport were never placed before the ASA Road Commission – the presumed experts elected for that discipline – as there are at least three members of that body that I can confidently say would have questioned the logic of the proposals . ( That is also why both the Cycling and Triathlon federations have now accepted that there is a need for event organisers to be represented at Board and Commission level .) |
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Images : Action Photo SA , Roger Sedres / Image SA , Shawn Benjamin & courtesy JP Morgan Challenge |
impact of race entry fees as above – and many aren ’ t – they do not appreciate that unless they get going , there will be no administration left to run the sport .
Given the chosen direction of competitive return by ASA , it would almost appear that even at that level , there is a lack of appreciation as to how close to the precipice the sport is being taken . I was amongst the first to support the National Federation in its initial statement that we should not have any competitions while the number of infections was rising . However , there was a need , as happened in some events , and indeed at international and world level , to immediately commence on investigations , innovations , collaboration and planning for when it was time to reopen the sport . Little , if anything , was undertaken in that direction . Instead , a wait and see approach was adopted .
On 19 August , World Athletics hosted two Return to Road Running meetings online for the world ’ s National Federations . ASA did not attend either session , and this perhaps explains the lack of shared international knowledge in the Return to Competition Regulations that ASA agreed with the Ministry of Sport and issued in mid-October . The reality is that few races between now and April are able to be viable on the basis of a maximum of 500 runners over a maximum of 10km , with one water point . And as pointed out above , no races means no entry fee contribution to provinces , and the undermining of the entire structure .
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Getting Down to Mathematics
The limitation of 500 runners in one grouping is understandable , as the country ’ s national regulations place the same limit on gatherings in the open . However , this is being challenged by the entertainment industry ( concerts and expos , etc ), which is requesting a review to accept a 70 % of venue capacity in order to create financially viable events .
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If we are honest and acknowledge the South African tendency to ‘ bend the rules ,’ it is not unreasonable for government to request organisers to commence with a smaller manageable number and prove that they , and their clients / customers , can implement and adhere to processes , before opening to greater audiences . So then it ’ s reasonable to apply the 500 group limit to running or endurance events .
The review and management of how this is applied requires assessment for each event . What works in one race will be different for another , as each event has a unique configuration at start and finish venues . Similarly , the number or approaches , size of parking area , possibility for route configuration is different . Meanwhile , a small elite group on a lapped circuit presents totally different concerns to the same size field on a point-to-point course .
The point is that the risk of contact , which is the base risk in COVID-19 , varies uniquely from event to event , but what predominately remains constant is the peak number of finishers for 500 starters over a 10km distance . Any 10km race with 500 starters can expect 30 runners to finish per minute at peak time , and that is the greatest risk to be handled in getting runners to disperse without contact at the finish venue . The 500 starters is the risk to be mitigated , whether the race is 5km or 100km , and the first water point will be the highest risk irrespective of whether it ’ s a 10km or an ultra .
These are not new or hidden facts . This is widely known by anyone who has organised any level of road running . For this reason it seems totally illogical that our mother body should claim that they consider races longer than 10km to be more dangerous , when in fact the exact reverse is true !
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Review the Logic , Retain the Intent
Comparing the peak 30 runners per minute finisher rate of a 500-runner 10km , it would be possible , with the correct starting process and mitigation , to have over 4000 runners on a marathon course with no greater risk . This is an obvious conclusion to experienced people , and one that could be planned for and implemented in stages between 1 November and the end of December , in co-operation with local and national Departments of Health and Sport , and provincial and national federations .
Without doubt , one of the key determinants will be the attitude and adherence of the runners , and that lies squarely in peer and self-policing , first at club level , then provincial , and finally national level . Quite simply , runners who ignore or break COVID regulations cannot be tolerated in the sport at this time .
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