Elite athletes allowed return to training at last
ATHLETICS
ELITE athletes in Scotland have been given the go-ahead to return to training in groups under socialdistancing guidelines.
The Scottish Government has approved plans for professional, performance and Olympic/Paralympic athletes to return to organised sessions following talks with sportscotland, which has published detailed guidelines.
The development comes after Celtic and Ross County players returned to training on Thursday, the day the suspension of all Scottish football activity was lifted for Premiership first-team squads.
Stewart Harris, the chief executive of sportscotland said: “We all want to see sport return as soon as it is safe to do so but the most pressing priority at this time remains public health and well-being.
“We have been working closely with our partners including the Scottish Government and SGBs [sports governing bodies] to develop guidance, appropriate to Scotland, which follows the route-map through and out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Following the announcement of the move into phase one of the route-map on May 28, a number of outdoor non-contact sports were given approval to issue guidance to their communities to allow appropriate physical activity and exercise to take place.
“Our collective ambition has always been to progress both community and performance sport simultaneously and approval has now been given to allow commencement of the first stage of a return to professional/performance sport for athletes, coaches and support staff.
“This will allow engagement