Some European countries, like Sweden, never really shut down. Others, like Italy, have projected a slow return to sporting normalcy as soon as May 4th.
On Tuesday, however, the Netherlands slammed the door shut on any hopes of a return to competition any time soon when they extended the country’s ban on major public events, including sports and music festivals, until September 1st. There was a ray of hope, however, for a very near return to training.
The country’s top-flight soccer league had planned to resume competition on June 19, without spectators and behind closed doors, but that league has announced that it will likely cancel the remainder of the season after the announcement.
The country has, however, given the green light to “elite athletes” to train at designated training locations if they keep a distance of 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) and “take all hygiene measures as determined by the RIVM,” a government statement said.
On April 29th, children and teenagers will receive expanded ability to participate in organized sporting activities, although official competitions will not be allowed. Children aged 12 & under will be allowed to play sports together outdoors under supervision, young people aged 13 to 18 will be able to play sports together outdoors under supervision, but must stay 1.5 meters apart.
Different municipalities will be allowed to make different rules on these measures, and the reopenings are provisional until May 20th.
These moves will allow, among others, the resumption of training for swimmers in the Netherlands. The Netherlands won 1 medal across all disciplines at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships when Ranomi Kromowidjojo took silver in the 50 fly. The country swept the open water Olympic gold medals in 2016 (Ferry Weertman won the men’s 10k, Sharon van Rouwendaal the women’s). One of the country’s biggest medal threats at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which will begin in July 2021, is Arno Kamminga. After placing 13th in the 100 breast and 10th in the 200 breast at Worlds, he has broken a Dutch Record in nearly every event that he’s raced since.
This was part of an update in quarantine regulations for the country as individual industries have been challenged to build protocols for keeping workers and customers safe.
Other Dutch Open/Close Updates:
- The country will open primary schools and daycares on May 11th, high schools on June 1st or June 2nd. Classroom sizes will be cut in half t0 maintain proper social distancing.
- Barbers, masseuses, sex workers, and other close-contact professions will have to remain closed
- Other businesses where workers and visitors can keep a 1.5 meter distance can stay open, though places like bars and restaurants must stay closed.
- Beginning on April 29, people over 70 can have visits with one or two people only, with a recommendation that it be from the same people.
The Netherlands has 34,842 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 4,054 deaths caused by COVID-19.