We’ll take breaches seriously
compete in qualification events abroad for Tokyo.
Speaking on RTE Radio 1, Chambers said that Sport Ireland will be given the resources to police the policy, with the HSE given final say over whether an athlete or a team can avail of the exemption.
“This will be done, just to be clear, on a case by case basis,” said Chambers.
“So a Paralympic athlete who is due to engage in a classification event to qualify for the Paralympics, when they return they’ll want to continue their activity, they won’t be allowed to interact with their family, they won’t be allowed to see their friends, they won’t be allowed to go to the shop.
“Their only activity will be the specific training activity and they’ll be in complete isolation outside of that for the same equivalent period as someone who is in a hotel mandatory quarantine.”
Tennis stars made headlines worldwide as they were confined to hotel rooms for 14 days ahead of the Australian Open, but Chambers confirmed elite and professional athletes who travel into Ireland will have more freedom.
“The only activity they’ll be allowed to continue is the specific sporting activity, and they’ll be in isolation outside of that,” he stressed.
“Sport Ireland are engaging with hotel providers, for example, so that we do uphold that public health rationale and that principle.
“There may be governing bodies that present a plan that doesn’t meet that equivalence, and if they don’t then they won’t be given the certification to continue that activity. The regulations will underpin it and Sport Ireland will police this, they’ll be in constant contact with the governing body.
“Our athletes will only be enabled to continue their specific training activity, there has to be absolute adherence to that and any breach will be taken very seriously.”