As Wales continues to emerge from lockdown, the nation is being urged to get ‘back in the game’ by maximising every opportunity to get active.
The improving public health situation means that adults can now return to organised outdoor activities, while swimming pools, leisure centres and gyms will all re-open next Monday. Of course, children are already able to enjoy organised outdoor activities, while indoor group fitness classes and indoor sports for both adults and children can also resume from Monday 3rd May – two weeks earlier than expected.
Enthused by how the easing of restrictions will open up sport to more people, Sarah Powell, CEO of Sport Wales, said: “Throughout an incredibly testing period, the sporting family in Wales has shown great patience, acting both responsibly and creatively to help support healthy lifestyles during the pandemic.
“The fact that reopening dates have been brought forward is testament to the dedication of the sport sector in ensuring a safe and covid-compliant return. We’re thrilled that it’s nearly time for everyone to get back in the game and enjoy the huge benefits of sport and physical activity.
“The pure fun and enjoyment of sport cannot be underestimated. It makes our lives better, and we need to make the most of these expanded opportunities to be active, safely. Not only does exercise boost our physical health but it does wonders for our mental health too. Children have only been back playing outdoor sport for a couple of weeks, but it is clear for all to see how much they enjoy being back doing sport with their friends, being active and socialising again.
It’s time to get back in the game!
#BackInTheGame
Sport Wales’ research suggests that more than half of adults in Wales miss the types of activity they were able to do before the pandemic began, while 60% of adults intend to increase the amount of physical activity and exercise they do as Wales comes out of lockdown.
Sarah added: “There’s a big appetite out there among people to be more active, but it’s only natural that some will feel a little anxious about returning to activities alongside other people, even those activities they’ve missed the most.
“Please rest assured that safety is the number one priority. Some activities may look a little different to how they used to, but we can feel confident that all the necessary social distancing, cleaning and a host of other measures will be in place to ensure that activities are safe. A huge amount of work has gone into this and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part.
“Sport Wales will continue to support the Welsh sport sector and work with Welsh Government to gain the clarity needed to allow everyone to make all of the preparations required to have activities up and running from the very moment it is possible.
“We’ve all missed out on a lot, but sport will continue to unite and inspire the nation and play a central role in Wales’ recovery from this awful crisis.”
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