Elite athletes can travel beyond five-mile limit to train

By Ronnie Charters

Elite Scottish athletes will be able to travel beyond the five-mile government guidelines to train, as part of measures announced by sportscotland.

The national agency for sport established a five step route map out of the Covid-19 crisis.

After the Scottish Government moved to phase one of easing lockdown restrictions, sportscotland initiated step one of its plan.

According to their guidelines this will allow engagement in outdoor, individual or group training, with appropriate social distancing and health and hygiene measures in place.

It will also allow travel to outdoor training sites beyond the current Scottish Government guideline of broadly five miles.

Chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “We all want to see sport return as soon as it is safe to do so but the most pressing priority at this time remains public health and wellbeing.

“Following the announcement of the move into Phase One of the route-map on May 28, a number of outdoor non-contact sports were given approval to issue guidance to their communities to allow appropriate physical activity and exercise to take place.

“Our collective ambition has always been to progress both community and performance sport simultaneously and approval has now been given to allow commencement of the first stage of a return to professional/performance sport for athletes, coaches and support staff.

“These measures are very positive steps forward for the sport sector as we seek to rebuild our systems at all levels.

“Alongside our partners we will continue to play our part to ensure the transition back to sport, both in local communities and at a performance level, is as safe and effective as possible.”

The second phase, which could be introduced after the next phase of lockdown, would involve team or group training.