FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Outbreak Prevention Taskforce launches online risk assessment tool
for endurance event organisers
The Outbreak Prevention Taskforce formed by World Athletics with the
International Institute for Race Medicine (IIRM), and including the medical
chairs from five other global sports federations, has today launched an
online risk assessment and mitigation tool for endurance event organisers.
Representatives from the International Cycling Union, World Triathlon,
International Ski Federation, World Rowing, the International Paralympic
Committee, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) expert group on mass
gatherings, joined the taskforce. The WHO and the International Olympic
Committee attended as observers, while an advisory group including event
organisers and stakeholders from a range of other endurance sports was also
consulted.
Derived from the WHO's general advice for mass gatherings, the tool is
intended to help organisers assess the risk of staging an event, establish
the preparedness of the community and the event organisation for the risks
of Covid-19, and clarify any necessary steps to further mitigate and reduce
the risk.
Once details have been entered into the tool, it generates a document that
event organisers can use in making the right decisions to protect the local
community, the participants, the volunteers, workforce, and staff involved.
It does not advise on spectator management.
The tool is applicable to all mass participation endurance events,
regardless of the sport, competition level and size.
It outlines mandatory mitigation measures to be undertaken by the event
organisers, based on their particular circumstances, as well as recommended
and desired measures, and emphasises that all of the mandatory measures and
most of the recommended measures should be adopted if the event is to take
place.
There is no guarantee that the suggested actions will sufficiently reduce
the risk to allow the safe staging of an event, but they will guide event
organisers through a process that the taskforce hopes will become a
standard part of the preparation for staging mass events.
Competition organisers are strongly encouraged to coordinate with local
public health authorities when planning events and to discuss the results
obtained through the tool. Local and/or national laws and regulations will
always take precedence over the results obtained from this tool and its
guidance documents.
"Using the tool will not solve the COVID-19 outbreak, or other infectious
diseases, but it will guide event organisers through a process that should
become a habit and should be done before every event," said Dr Paolo Emilio
Adami, World Athletics' medical manager. "There will never be zero risk for
infectious diseases but we want to help event organisers to reduce the risk
to an acceptable level."
IIRM Executive Director Chris Troyanos said: "The International Institute
for Race Medicine is proud to have helped lead this effort. During these
uncertain and ever changing times, it was vital for so many organizations
to work towards a common goal. This evaluation tool, which provides
immediate feedback, can be used for all types of endurance events as we
return to activities. But the risk assesment tool is only the first step
as we continue to provide practical solutions to the pandemic."
The tool is available at: idom.worldathletics.org
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