I had started a new subject for my writing with my story as a cyclist, driver and pedestrian, to give people an idea of how cycling can be from all aspects. I say a new subject, but I suppose it’s not. Cycling is one of the reasons I started the page – or maybe the lack of it when I fell off my bike, but either way, I am here with something else, let’s give it a go.
I want to interrupt the cycling stories though, because I want to go back to the unwanted condition that is Coronavirus and I want to add in sport, and how I see things. And my reason for doing this is because as I write this, I am watching the opening night of the World Darts Championship, one of my favourite sports. I used to play if you read this post?
But I want to write, not about the virus or the sport, but the crowds and the decision the Government has made, for this part of our life, and another part of the virus decisions I find confusing. Let’s start with the darts. It’s only just started with limited crowd numbers, and I believe it is all going to stop tomorrow, as London is going into tier 3, so no crowds allowed.
However, I had to have a quick internet search and found this regarding the audience:
‘Fans will be in attendance at the PDC World Darts Championship, which gets underway on Tuesday 15 December at Alexandra Palace, but it will be a very different experience to the usual party. Up to 1,000 fans will be at each session of the tournament, but can only sit in tables of four, consisting of one household or support bubble.’
Credit to the PDC for getting crowds back, but I noticed that the camera is not panning the fans as often as they normally do during these competitions. And in my opinion, the reason is the last part of the internet search paragraph is not happening, I’m sorry but from what I can see it’s not the case. Now I can’t prove that, but I wonder if the PDC and Alexandra Palace, can demonstrate that tables of fans are from the same household or bubble – I don’t think they will be able to, and I don’t think they are. There certainly seems to be some bubbles consisting of a lot of blokes!!
But then we don’t see too much of the crowd, even at the end of the game when the cameras used to love showing us the crowds having fun. What is different is it this year? Well, I think it’s a bit obvious, people don’t want us to see the fans and maybe to see the obvious – but that’s me!
And so from darts to football, not much of a connection there is there? Well there is where spectators are concerned because it is only in the last week we have seen the return of fans to the elite level too, all supposedly controlled with guidelines, and another quick search gives us this:
‘Fans are asked to plan their journeys and arrive early for the match, and social distancing must be maintained at all times.
Fans must follow all signage and floor markings to help maintain social distancing, and note that some stadium facilities, including toilets and refreshment kiosks, may be closed.
Clubs can make their own decision as to whether fans must wear a face covering at all times or if they can remove it once seated, and supporters will be allowed to sing, but only as long as they remain socially distanced.’
Now I’m not sure who authorities are trying to fool here, the fans, the public or themselves, and to prove a point here are some photos from the last weeks’ games. I’m sorry, but I don’t see the social distancing in some places, even those seated are NOT two metres apart, anyone can see that.
Don’t get me wrong I am pleased fans are back at sporting events, but only if it is done properly, and football certainly isn’t and here’s why.
First of all, I don’t understand why more fans can’t attend and as written about before, do it as a percentage of the ground capacity? But there is more, and more importantly, why aren’t he fans spread out more to ensure they are socially distanced at all times, because the photos show it’s not happening!
If only two thousand fans are allowed into a 40,000 (or more) seater stadium, they can be more spread out than they are, and so ensuring social distancing, unlike the photos show. However, are they sitting closer together to try to create an atmosphere? Well with that small number of fans allowed in to watch in such big stadiums, there isn’t going to be an atmosphere, is there? So go for social distancing please not a pretend atmosphere.
It also states that clubs decide whether fans wear face coverings, and as always I ask why? Surely it should be no covering – no entry. I have had to wear coverings all day at work; surely fans can wear one for two hours or so.
Many people will say that they don’t need to as they are outside and that could be true, but let’s look at the guidelines again and the part that states ‘supporters will be allowed to sing.’ And something else I struggle with.
Why are many concerts and theatres not allowed to open? Well seemingly one reason I heard on the morning news recently, is because, germs can be projected further when people shout and sing, and that to me is strange.
Football fans can gather closer than the two-metre guideline as these photos show, they may not have to wear face coverings as the guidelines state, and they may be allowed to sing and shout, a reason other facilities are closed. Let’s be honest it will take a good Steward to see someone going to shout and stop them in time!
So shout and sing, a situation that spreads germs further, possibly closer than two metres to the person nearest to you and not having a face covering on! And I’m sorry but in my little logical world that does not make sense, especially when concerts and theatres are closed!
‘Hang on’ I hear you shout concerts and theatres are inside, but then so is the darts, and the darts have people there, all social distanced and supposedly from the same bubble or household. So why not at other venues – tiers aside!
And of course, we allow elite sportsmen and women to continue to play sport, yet we see games and competitions cancelled, such as the English ODI cricket tour to South Africa, because of COVID. Only today (15.12) Charlton Athletic v Bristol Rovers, cancelled for the same reason. I think we have all heard about Lewis Hamilton, and so on. However these people have a good lifestyle and will have much to help keep them occupied and help with their mental health, what about little Johnny or Julie at twelve years old have very little and who live for their weekend football matches or other sport, but can’t play?
Let the elite play, let the darts players play inside (tier allowing). Still, no twelve-year-olds running around outside in the fresh air, helping them have exercise, seeing their friends and giving them that hour or two of freedom and enjoyment, and so help with any mental health issues! Nope, you can’t do that, but you can all go and sit inside in a classroom with people from other households, and when you get home you can watch a thousand people sitting in a room watching darts.
It’s not right, but so many decisions by our Government have baffled me, but what can we do? Well, we can keep trying to do the right thing, even if we think those ‘supposed’ right things are wrong.
I have mentioned my logical little world, and I wonder if Boris needs a ‘Minister for Logic’ to sit at his cabinet meetings, I would happily apply for the job.
It’s all strange, but I don’t understand my local barber wearing his face covering standing above his client with his face covering over his mouth but not his nose, nor do I understand why he lets his customer do the same – what’s the point?
I don’t understand why I can’t see four households over the Christmas period, a ‘bubble’ that consists of seven people, one the Mother-In-Law, who self isolates without a virus. Yet my neighbour could have thirty people in her house because there is ten in each household. Where do they all go during the days and nights?
I appreciate lines have to be drawn, but these don’t make much sense to me!!
Thank you for reading and stay safe