Athletics on hold: The statistics just don’t make sense
Ray Flynn wonders why certain outdoor walks are closed to the public and he’s also frustrated that athletes can’t compete or train in groups
THINK about the following. 571,401 athletes and 98,035 officials and staff took part in 787 road races and track meets during a four-month period in Japan in 2020.
All this activity resulted in only one case of someone involved contacting Covid-19 in the two-week period that followed.
I want people to really reflect on this statistic for a moment. It is a truly mind boggling figure and something our government and Sport Ireland should reflect on as we in athletics continue to adjust to the current Level 5 restrictions, with athletes not even allowed to train in a group.
Not being allowed to train in groups or organise events is something we have learned to live with now for almost a year.
Not for one moment would I downplay the seriousness of this pandemic and the destruction it has caused to so many lives – not to mention the impact Covid-19 has had on business and people’s livelihoods.
However, what has really annoyed me in the last couple of weeks is the closing of parks and forest walks. I’m lucky enough to live in Calry, with three great walking amenities within a 5km radius of my house.
The three walks I refer to are Hazelwood, Deer
Park and the recently upgraded Lady Anne Trail near the shores of Lough Gill. To see two of these walks with signage on them precluding the public from using them is no less than criminal.
A lot about Covid-19 is still unclear and we are learning all the time – but one fact is crystal clear. The chances of contracting the disease outdoors are minimal as are borne out by the statistic from Japan. The experts all agree that fresh air is not alone good but even if you were unfortunate enough to contract the virus the more fresh air you get the better – and you will recover quicker. I can testify to that having caught the virus in October myself. Being one of the lucky ones who did not have very severe symptoms I never missed a day where I didn’t have some exercise. Again, I am one of the lucky ones who is able to go out my doorstep and walk for a period of time without meeting anyone.
I’m not sure if Sligo County
Council closed the local forest walks and trails on their own initiative or were directed by our government – but it is clearly the wrong decision. People should be free to exercise where ever they want, with the 5km travel restrictions a separate debate. One thing I have noticed is that the closing of these amenity walks has made the footpaths and cycling lanes around Sligo town much busier which, to me, defeats the purpose of the closures.
Furthermore, one has only to look at how busy the side of the roads are on the newly-opened bypass on the west side of the town is to understand what I mean.
It is time for the powers that be, both locally and national, to have a look at our current restrictions and see how counterproductive they really are. Lies, damned lies and statistics. I think the statistical evidence backs up my argument.