Tennis Wales Statement 1st April 2021
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The Welsh Government has published its updated roadmap for Wales as Covid-19 cases fall and vaccination levels increase across the country.
The roadmap from the Welsh Government this week has indicated;
- Outdoor organised activity for adults is planned to resume from Monday 3rd May, allowing adults to mix and play tennis in the form of doubles from more than two households, compete in leagues and teams, attend group coaching and enter competitions.
- Indoor tennis facilities are planned to reopen on Monday 10th May for individual use, and then welcome back group activity for adults and children, competitions and training indoors from Monday 17th May.
Tennis Wales, the LTA and other NGBs for sport across Wales are extremely disappointed by todays’ announcement. As the National Governing Body for tennis in Wales, we have continually shown our sport to be safe for people to participate and welcomed adults across Wales and tennis continues to offer numerous physical and mental health benefits to people. We recognise that we, along with the whole tennis community want to see tennis back for all adults and children as soon as possible.
Throughout the pandemic we have remained in contact with the Welsh Government, and written on numerous occasions to highlight the tremendous work being done by the tennis community to operate safely.
What’s happening next?
- Tennis Wales and the LTA will be sending a joint letter to the First Minister, asking for the Welsh Government to bring forward dates upon which adult organised activity can return in Wales. Our view is that outdoor tennis facilities in Wales are safe and ready to host adult coaching, social doubles, tennis leagues and that we’ve already safely welcomed back children.
- The Welsh Sports Association will be sending an open letter signed by National Governing Bodies for sport in Wales (including tennis) requesting a change to the roadmap to allow sport to resume sooner for adults.
It’s frustrating to see non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality being prioritised ahead of the return of wider outdoor tennis activity for adults given the hugely positive impact it can have on health and wellbeing, and we’ll be working hard with the LTA, Welsh Sports Association and other NGBs to make the case for organised outdoor sporting activity to be permitted to resume as soon as possible.
We’ll continue to keep the tennis community updated as we continue to liaise with the Welsh Government in the coming weeks.
