‘Cautious’ reopening raises questions for sport

THE PROSPECT of Irish sport rebounding in 2021 has dramatically receded after the Taoiseach admitted that significant restrictions will remain in place for the first half of the year.

And concerns about delays to the rollout of vaccinations could also have a knock-on effect on any hopes of fans returning to Irish stadia in any significant numbers in 2021.

It is news that Irish sporting bodies have been fearing. In the short term, it makes the viability of playing the National Leagues in Gaelic games highly questionable, while the start of the new League of Ireland season, already moved back to March, could also be in jeopardy.

Micheál Martin’s admission that the Government will take a ‘cautious and conservative approach’ to reopening the country when the current high levels of infection fall, make the resumption of elite sport a much more complicated task.

It is acknowledged that restarting the GAA Leagues in the coming months is an ambitious ask if the rest of the country is to remain at home.

That raises again the alternative of foregoing the Leagues and starting with the Championships in April.

It is recognised within Government that more financial support for the sporting sector will be required this year, but sports will also be expected to help themselves and address unnecessary costs.

Sacrificing the League could be one consequence.

And if there are delays in vaccinating the population, it makes the reopening of stadia in the autumn, when Ireland are due to play big games in soccer and rugby, an even dimmer possibility.