THE Ministry of Sport and Community Development has announced that the safe-zone return-to-play proposal developed by the Ministry after consultation with stakeholders and officials has been approved. Sports administrators welcomed the news, but Trinidad and Tobago Pro League interim chairman Brent Sancho believes it’s long overdue.

A media release on Sunday said, “National governing bodies (NGBs) and sport serving bodies will now be able to host sporting events and execute sporting activities for fully vaccinated athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators at specific sporting facilities.”

Since the covid19 pandemic started to affect TT in March 2020 sport has been on the sidelines, with few exceptions being made. National athletes and teams have been permitted to train periodically during the pandemic. A few sports, including tennis and golf, have been allowed.

Fans who are vaccinated will also be allowed to attend sporting events.

“Approval has also been granted for fully vaccinated spectators to attend events at 50 per cent facility capacity for outdoor events, and 25 per cent facility capacity for indoor events subject to guidelines to be issued by the Ministry of Health.

“The new Public Health Regulations will be published today (Sunday) and will take effect from tomorrow Monday, January 24, 2022.”

In October, certain sectors were allowed to reopen for vaccinated people at 50 per cent capacity. Gyms, casinos and cinemas were also given the green light.

Sancho felt little joy, saying Sunday’s announcement should have been made a long time ago.

“I think obviously for me it’s long overdue. It is something I felt could have been done a while back.”

Sancho said the Government showed “zero enthusiasm” during the pandemic to resume sports.

“Many should say you should just be happy. It is hard to be happy, because from where I sit this could have been dealt with a long time ago.”

Sancho said there was more zeal to host the Hero Caribbean Premier League in TT in 2020 and the 2022 Under-19 World Cup now being played in the Caribbean, including TT.

The former national defender said it will be a “huge challenge” to get the funding to run local leagues and tournaments with so many companies struggling financially during the pandemic.

President of the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath welcomed the news. “Great news, we are very happy for the news,” Bassarath said.

“We have made this call at our press conference earlier this month...we at the TTCB are ready to go. We have had everything in place (and were) only waiting for this announcement.”

Bassarath said the TT cricket fraternity is 90 per cent vaccinated.

“We have made an appeal to cricketers to get vaccinated...we had already set the tone that where only vaccinated people will be allowed to participate in our tournaments.”

Multiple tournaments for senior and junior cricketers are planned from February-June.

President of the National Association of Athletics Administrations George Comissiong was elated. “For us, it is exce