Exemptions won’t be endorsed easily

ANYONE who doubts that sports pushing for a speedy return must support their case with data should consider the case of the Irish Olympic movement.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland pushed publicly on Friday for a number of exemptions to some restrictions, to be granted to those qualified for the Tokyo Games or trying to secure their place.

However, going public was only the culmination of a process that has relied on both the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland, as well as the Olympic and Paralympic organisations here, putting together a case to health officials.

There is no guarantee the proposal will be approved. Exemption is a word that unsettles officials and politicians at a time when social solidarity is considered vital to the success of the public health approach.

There is a sporting case to be made, however, given athletes whose efforts to qualify for the Games in a matter of months – pandemic-permitting – may be unable to train while their rivals in other countries are already back in the thick of preparations.

Swimmers and divers here, for instance, cannot use the pool at the Institute of Sport in Dublin, so opening up facilities like that one to a designated number of athletes could be deemed possible.

But officials will not lightly make exemptions.