With the unfolding COVID-19 situation on the Northern Beaches and now parts of Greater Sydney, there have been many enquiries in relation to the status of the State Championships scheduled for this coming February/March.
Surf Life Saving NSW is committed to proceeding with the Championships and will be flexible and agile to ensure the event meets or exceeds the requirements of the prevailing NSW Health Order in place at the time of the Championships. Member safety is paramount as is the desire to ensure members who are engaged in surf sports have opportunities to participate and compete.
The current NSW Health Order has retained the allowance for Community Sporting events to be conducted up to a maximum of 3,000 persons (competitors, officials and spectators) - this has remained unchanged from prior to Christmas. The revised State Championships schedule which was circulated prior to Christmas, which sees the events conducted over four consecutive weekends and a separation of the Beach and Water events sits well within these parameters. SLSNSW is also well advanced in finalising the required COVID-Safe plans and protocols which will sit across the event.
We are also well advanced in various contingency plans to accommodate reductions in permissible event attendees should the NSW Health Order change prior to, or during, the Championships.
We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and maintain our liaison with key government officials to ensure, as best as possible, the Championships proceed as scheduled.
We would remind clubs that expressions of interest for entry into the Championships close on Wednesday 20 January. This is earlier than normal to allow us to review the entry levels and make adjustments to our planning as required.
Event information is availbel on the 2021 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships Event Page.