Government Confirms Sport Won’t Return Until 1st June At The Earliest

Sport in England will not return until at least 1st June, according to a timeline published by the government.

A 50-page document published by the government outling how lockdown measures will be eased in England says that ‘cultural and sporting events’ will be able to take place behind closed doors but will be allowed to be broadcast as part of the plan’s second step.

Step three of the plan, meanwhile, which will not start until 4 July at earliest, will see some venues re-open, but that may not mean large sporting events returning with fans in attendance.

The document says: “Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to reopen safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.

“Nevertheless the government will wish to open as many businesses and public places as the data and information at the time allows.

“In order to facilitate the fastest possible reopening of these types of higher-risk businesses and public places, the government will carefully phase and pilot reopenings to test their ability to adopt the new Covid-19 secure guidelines.

“The government will also monitor carefully the effects of reopening other similar establishments elsewhere in the world, as this happens.”

Meanwhile, the government has also said that recreational sporting activities, such as golf and tennis, can be resumed by those from the same household. Individuals can also play golf or tennis with one person from outside their household provided they remain two metres apart.