Thank you to principals for your responses regarding attending events during Winter Tournament Week under Covid Alert Level 2. While a small number of schools have indicated they will not be attending the events they have entered, the overwhelming majority of schools intend to participate provided event organisers ensure they are able to meet the requirements for sport at Alert Level 2, particularly in relation to contact tracing, mass gathering and social distancing, hygiene and sanitising.

We have been working with NSOs and event providers for national and inter-regional events while your RSDs have been working with those providing events within your region to assess their ability to deliver a safe event compliant with these requirements. Again, the vast majority of event organisers have indicated they are able to do so and for the events on the School Sport NZ Calendar, a specific Covid Level 2 Risk Plan will be available for schools to download from the Events tab on the School Sport NZ website as soon as it is completed.

While at Alert Level 3 (no sport permitted) and Alert Level 1 (sport as usual) the outcomes are clear, Alert Level 2 provides the opportunity for sport where safety requirements are in place and we are working as quickly as possible while making sure nothing is overlooked to ensure we can provide certainty around events as soon as possible after the government review of alert levels, now scheduled for Monday. At the very latest, we will confirm events, or otherwise, on Monday. The announcement will have a major effect on the ability to deliver events and we are ready for all possibilities!

Some events have already determined that either they cannot safely deliver an event compliant with requirements or that for other reasons, the event is not viable. The following events in Winter Tournament Week are cancelled:

• NISS & NZSS MotoCross Championship;
• SI School Road Championships - Cycling;
• NZSS 8 Ball Championships – FINALS

Thank you for your patience while we work through a complex situation in endeavouring to provide safe opportunities for your students to enjoy school sport.

Article added: Thursday 20 August 2020