In the wake of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association's decision to shutdown its Grassroots Programme on Providenciales, for what it says was cost associated to COVID testing, the Sports Commission has issued a statement clarifying the debacle. The following is the statement issued last Thursday evening:
On 10th March 2021, Cabinet granted approval for the commencement of Phase One- โReturn of Trainingโ (for specified teams) as of 11th March 2021 which would be monitored and reviewed periodically as to continuance and eventual advancement to the subsequent phases.
The Specific teams which were granted approval were teams associated with: โขThe Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association โขThe Turks and Caicos Amateur Athletic Association โขThe Turks and Caicos Islands Swim Federation
The approval for resumption was related to โ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฆโ preparation for international competition. All listed Federations had previously advised the Sports Commission of Scheduled International competition.
Upon further review, on 28th April, Cabinet approved the opening of the following phases:
โขIt granted approval for the commencement of ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐จ โReturn to Training-close contactโ for all sports and ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐ โReturn to Domestic competitionโ for selected sports (Track and Field, Swimming and Football) to commence on the 1st of May. Such approval is to be monitored and reviewed periodically as to continuance and eventual advancement to the subsequent phases. โขIt noted that this approval was subject to implementation for ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ and or vaccination for participants and the organizers presenting the Ministry of Health with their protocols for testing.
Please note that the approval for resumption is related to โ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฆโ preparation for international competition. To this end, the relaxed regulations does not apply to free play nor unstructured or structured sporting activities unrelated to National Team Preparation.
The public should also note that COVID 19 testing, both PCR and Antigen, are available free of charge to all residents within the TCI through the Ministry of Health Community Testing programme. In addition, TCIG has an MOU with private clinic across the TCI to also provide FREE testing to TCI residents.
We must continue to balance lives and livelihoods which includes the controlled resumption of sporting activities.
National Federations were forwarded all required protocols and are required to submit the following information prior to resumption of activities:
1.The names and contact of two critical posts: โข๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ (NGB officer) โข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ (physician)
2.COVID 19 risk assessment and Mitigation plan which includes weekly negative COVID 19 results
For further information or clarification, feel free to contact the Sports Commission at info.sportscommission@gov.tc.