Sports In TCI On A Dramatic Comeback, But With Restrictions

#TurksandCaicos, March 19, 2021 – After a long-hold on sporting activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, sporting activities finally breathe back into life, but with a phased approach. This was after the earlier efforts were thwarted with a raft of restrictions aimed at suppressing the virus’s spread.

“We were making our way to resume. We did resume. I guess sometime in last September,” said Jarret Forbes, TCI Sports Director, in an interview who adds the Fall season incline of the coronavirus force again a decline in sporting activity. 

“We believe that with the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health, oversight by the National Federations and the Sports Commission. We were able to implement a plan where we can resume the sports in a safe manner.”

According to Mr. Forbes, the recent Cabinet approval to resume sports training for the CARIFTA ad FIFA teams while implementing the guides prescribed by the Ministry of Health aims to keep the participants safe. He added the decision was necessary to stay on the regional calendar of sports activities since the athletes are right now preparing for a wide range of competitions.

“Just, for example, our football programme is preparing for FIFA World Cup. But they have competitions for qualifiers starting as early as this month.:

The TCI National Football team, on Monday left for the Dominican Republic for intense practice ahead of FIFA matches with Nicaragua and Belize; both in March.

The Sports Director explained the resumptions of sports amid the Covid-19 pandemic is key to ensuring that anyone who represents the TCI in any sporting competition stands a good chance of performing well.

“We are eager to resume sports in TCI,” he added.

Mr. Forbes revealed this re-boot resums regional and international competition practice; with other sporting activities progressing in phases, from the first phase which encompasses contactless training to the final phase where the fans can attend events while adhering to the strict guidelines.

“The decision for Phase One is to resume training in our national programs, which includes only non-contact training. Phase Two, once we’re able to follow the guides and transition properly, will be assessed by the Ministry of Health and recommendations made whether we can move to phase two,” he added.

If phase two, which involves contact training goes according to plan, phase three will be rolled out. Phase three will allow national competitions, but without fans.

Phase four will allow national competitions, wihich includes international teams travelling to the TCI to compete.

Finally, phase five will allow fans to attend the events while keeping social distancing and high-level sanitary measures.

This is good news for TCI sports teams and participants as the possibility of ending nearly a year of dormancy, mimics the season and springs to life an essential pass time and profession for islanders.