Athletics South Africa has aligned itself with the National State of Disaster as pronounced by State President Cyril Ramaphosa and have taken a decision to postpone with immediate effect all athletics events in the country.
All athletics events have been cancelled at all levels for 30 days because of the spiralling outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. This was the message from the president of Athletics SA (ASA) Aleck Skhosana.
On 15 March, Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster in the country detailing strict measures designed to combat the virus which was described as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
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Among the events that have been postponed are all schools athletics meetings including the ASA National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships which were scheduled for Pietermaritzburg this week. The event will remain at the same venue but on a new date still to be announced.
All club and provincial activities, including fun runs, parkruns, road-running, cross-country, trail-running and track and field events have also been postponed, including all ASA championships and the ASA Twizza National U16 to U20 Track and Field Championships; the 2020 ASA Athletics Grand Prix Series; and the 3Sixty Life & Sizwe Medical ASA senior track and field plus combined events.
“Under the ongoing guidance of the government on the virus, ASA will then review and give more information after 15 April on the way forward, depending on the status of the virus in the country at the time. ASA will then make a decision on all postponed events,” Skhosana said.
“The athletics body will give updates on an ongoing basis and people must be mindful of the fact that the federation has the best interest and well-being of the athletes, officials, spectators, supporters and our communities who are all our top priority, at heart.”
Skhosana urged athletes to continue with their preparations regime for all their postponed events so that they are ready when they resume. “We urge parents, coaches, principals and sports teachers to keep their athletes in training and in good condition so that they are ready to contest for national colours at the ASA National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships when it is opportune to hold the event.”
The same advice goes for high school, youth, juniors and elite athletes to continue with their preparations. High school and juniors will be contesting to go to the 2020 World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya, while the seniors are looking for a place at the 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for Japan.
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