With football finals cancelled and most summer sports still sweating on the detail of what, when and how they might be able to go ahead, the NSW sports minister has told The Daily Advertiser she is 'actively championing' for the return of community sport.
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Local clubs and sporting organisations have been thrust into a state of uncertainty for the last month.
Last week's release from lockdown for the Riverina and other regional areas proved a serious let down for the sporting community with a ban on most sport until the state hits the 80 per cent double vaccination target.
While people can gather in pubs, restaurants, shops and cafes, many sports wanting to offer healthy outdoor activity are still awaiting clarity.
In a statement to The Daily Advertiser, NSW minister for sport Natalie Ward said, "I am actively championing for the re-opening of community sport at the earliest opportunity."
However, the advice remains very broad.
"The NSW Government always follows the health advice. Community sport will resume when the health advice is that it is safe to do so," Ward said.
A spokesperson for the Office of Sport acknowledged the health and wellbeing benefits of sport.
They suggested Riverina sporting organisations head to the Office of Sport web page explaining the public health orders.
The health orders themselves don't specifically discuss sport, only 'gatherings'.
There are limits of 20 people for exercise; 50 if it's a 'COVID-19 safe outdoor public gathering' (with a safety plan); up to 500 people at a 'controlled outdoor public gathering enclosed by a fence and accessed by way of a ticket and with allocated seating', or as many as 5000 people can attend a major recreation facility if they can abide by the one person per four square metres guideline.
But for those wanting simply to know when they will be able to play cricket, touch football, or compete in athletics, it can be hard to get to the bottom of it.
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