OUA teams have green light to resume competition on Feb. 9
With the easing of Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions on Jan. 31, sports teams were able to get back into the swing of things following the University of Ottawa’s guidelines, including submitting a COVID-19 self-assessment before every training session.
Gee-Gees teams in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will be able to resume competition on Feb. 9.
The Gees basketball teams and men’s hockey team will be the first teams to play in 2022, resuming their regular season schedules on Feb. 11 and 12.
The U of O will be welcoming spectators in accordance with provincial guidelines.
Spencer Murdock is the sports information officer for the University’s varsity athletics department, he explained the U of O’s plan in an email to the Fulcrum.
“We will operate with a capacity of 250 spectators in the gym at Montpetit Hall and in the arena at the Minto Sports Complex. Expansion of those numbers will be reevaluated as we continue to move through the province’s reopening plan,” wrote Murdock, a former sports editor of the Fulcrum.
For the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) teams, there is no set date for competition to resume, but teams have gotten the green light to return to training and practice.
Beyond university sports, the change in restrictions allows gyms and other recreational sport facilities to reopen and run at 50 per cent capacity. This includes both the Minto Sports Complex and Montpetit Hall, where students can sign up for a timed session.
Other sporting events and venues are able to operate at 50 per cent capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
It is necessary to show proof of vaccination before entering facilities or using amenities and those with COVID-19 symptoms are asked to stay home.
