Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Discussions about serious topics, for serious people
Post Reply
User avatar
Grumble
Light of Blast
Posts: 4746
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:03 pm

Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Grumble » Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:51 am

The government, for reasons best known to themselves, have decided that “elite” sports are to be treated differently from other sports. This means that Donington Park, which is so big that 10,000 spectators would look lost, can’t open this weekend for the BTCC but was fine for Historic GT racing two weeks ago.
https://news.donington-park.co.uk/msv-a ... -park.aspx

I suspect I won’t be able to use my tickets for BSB at Donington the weekend after so I am annoyed more than I might be. Seriously, why Is “elite” a banning criteria?
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three

User avatar
headshot
Dorkwood
Posts: 1414
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2019 9:40 am

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by headshot » Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:26 am

And most people will arrive there with their own socially-distance transport method wearing full head masks.

User avatar
Martin Y
Stummy Beige
Posts: 3080
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:08 pm

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Martin Y » Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:47 am

Is "elite" (I infer "posh") actually the criterion, or is that just a label and the real criteria are other things like how many people need to be present in the pits area and how will they operate in a socially distanced way, how will X number of people use Y number of toilets, that kind of thing.

I don't know. I'm curious though. I do know that the biggest concerns about getting football started again wasn't putting 22 people on a pitch so much as working out the absolute minimum number of people who needed to be in the stadium, using its facilities, and still get the game broadcast.

User avatar
shpalman
Princess POW
Posts: 8244
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:53 pm
Location: One step beyond
Contact:

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by shpalman » Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:51 am

Grumble wrote:
Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:51 am
The government, for reasons best known to themselves, have decided that “elite” sports are to be treated differently from other sports. This means that Donington Park, which is so big that 10,000 spectators would look lost, can’t open this weekend for the BTCC but was fine for Historic GT racing two weeks ago.
https://news.donington-park.co.uk/msv-a ... -park.aspx

I suspect I won’t be able to use my tickets for BSB at Donington the weekend after so I am annoyed more than I might be. Seriously, why Is “elite” a banning criteria?
Something to do with "elite" sports attracting fans from the general public whereas for non-elite sports basically it's just their friends and family showing up?
having that swing is a necessary but not sufficient condition for it meaning a thing
@shpalman@mastodon.me.uk

User avatar
Grumble
Light of Blast
Posts: 4746
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:03 pm

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Grumble » Thu Jul 30, 2020 10:04 am

shpalman wrote:
Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:51 am
Grumble wrote:
Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:51 am
The government, for reasons best known to themselves, have decided that “elite” sports are to be treated differently from other sports. This means that Donington Park, which is so big that 10,000 spectators would look lost, can’t open this weekend for the BTCC but was fine for Historic GT racing two weeks ago.
https://news.donington-park.co.uk/msv-a ... -park.aspx

I suspect I won’t be able to use my tickets for BSB at Donington the weekend after so I am annoyed more than I might be. Seriously, why Is “elite” a banning criteria?
Something to do with "elite" sports attracting fans from the general public whereas for non-elite sports basically it's just their friends and family showing up?
There are plenty of enthusiasts who go to historic meetings and the like. But crowds will be smaller for sure. However MSV (the owners of half the major tracks in England) were limiting numbers and not allowing on the day sales. Honestly, in a space the size of a motorsports track, there is ample room for spacing. Just close the grandstands - hardly anyone sits in those anyway.
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three

User avatar
Martin Y
Stummy Beige
Posts: 3080
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:08 pm

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Martin Y » Thu Jul 30, 2020 10:20 am

There's loads of space for a crowd to stand well apart while spectating but the issues are going to be around bottlenecks for access/egress, catering, toilets and the like. Plus I'd guess a historic racer would turn up with one or two pals as pitcrew; rather fewer than a BTCC team.

User avatar
Aitch
Snowbonk
Posts: 545
Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2019 9:53 am
Location: St Aines

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Aitch » Thu Jul 30, 2020 11:51 am

They've handled the snooker well, so far (don't know about next weeks competition).

Bung all the players, officials etc in the venue for a week or so to check them out. No multi-table layout. Players distancing while playing. And NO audience.

I like it, you can watch the match without all the gobby audience members being a distraction. :)
Some people call me strange.
I prefer unconventional.
But I'm willing to compromise and accept eccentric
.

User avatar
Grumble
Light of Blast
Posts: 4746
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:03 pm

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Grumble » Thu Jul 30, 2020 11:57 am

I can totally agree with locking the audience out of an indoor game like snooker.

I take Martin’s point about pinch points/bottlenecks but I honestly think the measures in place were good, starting with limiting numbers. Whether a sport is “elite” or not bears little relation to how risky having an audience is.
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three

User avatar
Bird on a Fire
Princess POW
Posts: 10137
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2019 5:05 pm
Location: Portugal

Re: Unlockdown: sports (and illogic)

Post by Bird on a Fire » Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:41 pm

Could it be to do with minimising economic fallout? The organizations behind "elite" sports are presumably better able to take the hit.

I don't think many of the UK government's rules are about viral transmission. They're about politics and economics.
We have the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment.

Post Reply