KEY MESSAGES FOR B.C. SPORT LEADERS FROM viaSPORT: Travel Reminders For Spring Sports
The arrival of spring means a new group of sports and leagues are getting underway. We know that you may have questions about what is allowed under the current PHO Order on Gatherings and Events.
viaSport and BC Recreation and Parks Association would like to provide clarity around travel and the intention of the Order.
- Under current restrictions on travel for sport, participants can travel to their home club, even if it is outside their immediate community. Home club is defined by the PHO as the sport organization, club, or facility at which a person is registered for ongoing sport programming. For example:
o a skier who is part of the local ski club can travel to their local mountain, which might cross a regional health authority border;
o an archer may need to travel to a neighbouring community because their community does not have an archery club;
o a high-performance athlete may need to travel to a nearby community to receive specialized training
- Although there is some flexibility to allow for participants to travel short distances to reach a home club, the intention of the Order is to minimize travel for sport activities, and to stay close to home. For example:
o participants from Vancouver Island should not travel to the Lower Mainland, from the Kootenays to the Okanagan, or from the North to Okanagan.
- Remember, the Public Health Order does not specifically address every individual situation. When interpreting the Order, please remember the intention of the Order is important. That intention is to stay local as much as possible. This will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and keep sports safe.