Covid Vaccination Passports
Many Regional Sports Organisations, Sport Clubs and Venues/Facilities will only be able to operate at the capacity to allow games to go ahead if they mandate Vaccine Passes. This has come into effect as at midnight on Thursday 2nd December 2021, so will apply to the majority of Sports Leagues in 2022. League administrators will be seeking confirmation of participants vaccination status, which they are legally entitled to do as per government legislation (all students over the age of 12 years 3 months will need to provide proof of vaccination if requested).
Sport Bay of Plenty have been and are continuing to work with Sport NZ, School Sport NZ and their Principal Groups to understand the Government regulations and the potential ramifications they will have on School Sport.
The board of School Sport NZ have confirmed that all School Sport NZ sanctioned events in Term 1 2022 (including the term 1 holidays) will be restricted to fully vaccinated participants, aged 12 and over, only. Where practicable, this mandate extends to spectators attending also. This decision will be reviewed post Summer Tournament Week 2022 and taking into account the latest Government advice.
Sport NZ has published its advice in accordance with the Covid Protection Framework. Quite simply, the events on the School Sport NZ Calendar will not be able to proceed if Covid Vaccination Certificates are not being checked. The gathering limits at Orange and Red in particular become too restrictive for viable sports events to take place. Many public venues and facilities where sanctioned events take place are requiring Covid Vaccine Passes for entry. National and Regional Sports Organisations are also considering their options. This mandate will provide clarity for all stakeholders to plan with confidence that events on the School Sport NZ Calendar will be able to continue.
While it is not yet confirmed at the time of writing this letter, it is also likely that all Sport Bay of Plenty Events will be restricted to fully vaccinated participants, aged 12 and over, only.
