Sport

“We are a sacrificial lamb”: Out of lockdown, but still closed for business

Published

2 years ago

June 11, 2021

Melbourne fitness facilities have been labelled as ‘high-risk environments” by the Chief Health Officer, with the peak industry body disputing the ‘ludicrous’ claims.

The Australian state of Victoria is emerging from its fourth lockdown, but heavy restrictions still remain for many ‘devastated’ sectors.

The Federal Government will no longer declare the state’s capital as a coronavirus hotspot, however this means an end to COVID-19 disaster payments for most people.

Lockdown restrictions eased in Melbourne at 11.59pm on Thursday 10th June, but heavy restrictions still remain for many businesses in both the metro and regional areas of the state.

“We are not making a sacrifice, we are more a sacrificial lamb”

Gyms in Melbourne will be closed for at least another week, a decision one owner has described as “the laughing stock of Australia”

The government has lifted restrictions for cafes, restaurants and retail to reopen from Thursday but fitness facilities will have their doors shut, for at least another week.

This comes as Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton described these venues as “high-risk environments”.

Professor Sutton said overseas research indicated gyms were places that had “significant opportunity to spread” infections.

“I am asking gyms to make that sacrifice for a further week,” Professor Sutton said.

The CEO of peak fitness industry body, Fitness Australia, disputes the claims made by Sutton.

“Our sector has been making a sacrifice for 18 months. We are not making a sacrifice, we are more a sacrificial lamb,”
CEO of Fitness australia, barrie elvish.

"Our sector has been making a sacrifice for 18 months. We are not making a sacrifice, we are more a sacrificial lamb"

CEO @fitnessausltd Barrie Elvish disputes the claims that fitness venues like #gyms are “high-risk environments” #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/EIaQ36Y3xN
— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) June 9, 2021

Matt Georgeades owns two Body Fit Training studio’s in Melbourne’s inner west and says Sutton’s claims “are absolutely rubbish”.

Matt Georgeades, BODY FIT TRAINING STUDIO AIRPORT WEST AND Craigieburn OWNER

In metropolitan Melbourne hospitality, hair, beauty salons and retail are among those permitted to re-open, but gyms, amusement parks, dance studios and nightclubs will remain closed.

Is the government support for closed businesses enough?

A further $8.36 million in funding has been announced to provide an additional $2000 grant to support thousands of businesses that will remain shut.

However, Georgeades says he is wondering “where the funds are going to come from” to continue to support his small business and staff, as well as maintain outgoing expenses with “minimal support from the government”

“Our community is a tough bunch, but throughout the four lockdowns, I’ve seen the mental heath (of members) diminish dramatically,”
Georgeades says.

“Clearly, the Chief Health Officer does not see the importance of people’s mental health.”

Georgeades says he “just wants to know when mental health will be held equally as important as peoples physical health”, as he has seen his members positivity decline as lockdown progressed.

"The data shows us you're five times more likely to get a transmission of the virus in a hospitality venue, than a gym facility."

CEO of @fitnessausltd @barrie_elvish talks about the #mentalhealth impact of forcing gyms to close, during #Victorialockdown.

tickerNEWS | pic.twitter.com/qeWHBYZxG3
— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) June 3, 2021

The fitness industry is uniting in a “call to arms”, flooding social media of pictures standing outside empty gyms, in a bid to allow fitness facilities to open as soon as possible.

If you can't hear us, we will shout a little louder #EmptyExerciseFacilitiesHelpNoOne 👏 pic.twitter.com/yFikQHvfxY
— AUSactive (@AUSactive_) June 10, 2021

Up Next

Will Indonesia’s ‘Work From Bali’ save the island? | TICKER VIEWS

Don't Miss

Putin to be called out over recent cybercrime, says Biden

Brittany Coles

Click to comment

Sport

Rafa Nadal pulls out of French Open

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2023

ticker NEWS, Brittany Coles

The Spaniard has failed to regain full fitness from a hip injury sustained earlier this year

Rafa Nadal has delivered news that no tennis fan wanted to hear.

The King of Clay will miss the French Open after failing to regain full fitness from a hip injury suffered at the Australian Open back in January.

The 14-time Roland Garros winner says he expects to retire following the 2024 season.

Nadal has dominated the clay court season for close to two decades.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion fronted a widely anticipated press conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca to drop the bombshell, saying its the right thing to do for his body and personal happiness.

“I’ll look to be 100% ready for next year, which I believe will be the last year of my professional career,” Nadal told a news conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain.

“The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible.”

“I’ll not establish a date for my return. I’ll see how my body responds and take it from there,” said the 36-year-old. “If I keep playing at this moment, I don’t think I can be there next year.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back in the highest level and compete for Grand Slams. What I will try to do is to give myself the opportunity to go back to what could be my final year competing at the highest level.”

Sport

China expresses concerns about ‘politicisation of sports’

Published

4 weeks ago

May 8, 2023

ticker NEWS

The East Asian nation raised the issue when Premier Li met with the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach

China has expressed concerns to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the politicisation of sporting events.

The issue was raised when Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, in Beijing over the weekend.

“China’s efforts to promote the Olympic spirit will never cease, and [China is] ready to work with IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports, and make further contributions to the Olympic movement,” Li said.

It is rare for China to raise such concerns with the IOC in public, and it was the first time it had made such comments since the Winter Olympics in Beijing early last year.

The United States and several of its allies took part in a diplomatic boycott of the Games, citing alleged human rights abuse in China’s far west region of Xinjiang.

Beijing has repeatedly denied the accusation and said it opposes any attempts to politicise sporting events.

Sport

Tasmanian AFL team becomes reality

Published

4 weeks ago

May 3, 2023

ticker NEWS

Tasmania will have a team in the AFL after all 18 current teams agreed to the motion

An exciting day for residents of the Australian state of Tasmania today.

Outgoing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirming Tasmania has been granted the league’s 19th licence.

It follows the nation’s federal government confirming it will cover the $240 million shortfall to fund a new multi-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point.

This has long been viewed as Tasmania’s most significant hurdle for entry into the league.

All 18 clubs supported the state’s bid, before the AFL Commission agreed to a formal ratification.

McLachlan fronted a press conference at North Hobart Oval, alongside Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and a whole host of players.

The CEO says the decision “will finally make [the] competitions truly national”. #trending #featured