Sporting events at 50% capacity to be allowed in 'MGCQ'

MANILA, Philippines, May 26 ------ Sporting events are among the mass gatherings that can make a gradual return in areas that are under a "modified general community quarantine" or MGCQ. This, according to the revised omnibus guidelines on the implementation of a community quarantine released by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) this weekend. "Mass gatherings such as but not limited to movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work gatherings shall be allowed (in MGCQ)," the memo read.

However, these gatherings can only take place "provided that participants shall be limited to 50% of the venue or seating capacity." In areas under MGCQ, indoor and outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise, such as walking, jogging, running and biking are allowed, as long as masks are worn and physical distancing protocols are observed. Among the non-contact sports allowed are golf, tennis, swimming, badminton, equestrian, and skateboarding.

These exercises and non-contact sports are also allowed in areas under GCQ, although further restrictions to the operations of club houses apply. The Philippine Sports Commission has previously submitted its recommendations to the IATF and the Department of Health on what sports activities can be done in areas under the different lockdown categories.

As of the moment, there are no areas under MGCQ in the Philippines. The entire National Capital Region, the province of Laguna, and Cebu City are under modified enhanced community quarantine, which prohibits mass gatherings including sporting events.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com/sports