Another week of interesting sessions and engagement with the Strength In Numbers session. See highlights below:
- Organisers in Indonesia have been successfully organising and running smaller triathlon and running events from a 30-150 participants. Commercial models are only possible due to government support of the events with a focus primarily on tourism. Currently ongoing restrictions with rising cases in many states.
- Most parts of Philippines just entered a strict two week lockdown to try and get control of rising numbers and massive impact on businesses and communities
- A few events planned and taking place in Egypt mostly confined to private land in resort style locations. Only small numbers with max 500 participants and like in Indonesia focused on tourism. New regulations that, even post COVID, any event organiser must be registered with the Ministry of Sport. Previously anyone could organise an event with no need for ministry oversight. Plans for larger events in Q4
- In Australia, snap lockdowns continue and are playing havoc with the industry with unsustainable commercial risk with numerous cases of events cancelled with 24hours notice. Some organisers have already decided to write off 2021 and focus on 2022. Contradictions still abound – Brisbane and other parts of Queensland came out of lockdown last week with stadiums allowed to return to 50% capacity but no community sport or Mass Participation events allowed.
- Despite spikes in positive cases in some parts of US events are returning in significant numbers. One organiser shared “we don’t even need to have a COVID-safe plan anymore – we are back to events the old way”.
- In Canada, things are pretty positive. In British Columbia, about 81% of people have been vaccinated with first dose (12 years and up) and about 65% have been vaccinated with the second dose. Restrictions are starting to be lifted and they will hopefully move to the next stage on September 7. Organisers are preparing for bigger events in Q4.
- In Ireland, regulations have been set in consideration of the Delta variant. Events can still be executed with a maximum of 200 participants and officials at a site at any time as well as the strict implementation of standard COVID-19 guidelines like mask wearing, social distancing and sanitisation.
- More and more events returning in UK but indications that “new” events and less established events are struggling to attract participants “ a combination of lack of participants being cautious, other priorities and being ‘out of the habit’”
Strength in Numbers sessions are now once a month on the first Mon/Tues of the month.
5 September Monday
10am London
1pm Dubai
5pm Singapore
7pm Sydney
7pm Sydney
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6 September
Monday
6pm Los Angeles
9pm New York
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