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GAA CEO Tom Ryan says his association will redouble its efforts to ensure protocol and security if more fans are allowed to attend the games in the near future.
Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee on the response to Covid-19 this morning, a meeting that featured GAA, IRFU and FAI officials on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sport in Ireland, the GAA chief said the mantra of the association to date had been ‘go up, play and go home’.
And when asked how the GAA has dealt with the potential challenge of crowds flocking to games, Ryan said it hadn’t been a problem until now, but had no doubt that his organization would continue to lead the way if allowed a greater attendance at the matches.
“When we did play again, we started with club games and youth games, so even with the restrictions in mind, there would always be a very small number,” Ryan said.
“My own club had 200 people allowed in a game and after covering the players and management, that meant we could cover about 50 spectators.
“Certainly we have not encountered any inappropriate congregation in the games so far.
“But if there are things we can do, like acting on the bench to ensure proper distancing and after games, we will.
“So far we have been ‘show up, play the game, go home,’ but considering an increase in supporters, we would certainly continue that and redouble our efforts.”
When asked about the possibility of increased crowds at games in the future, GAA President John Horan said the association was reaching out to colleagues on the national committee for a return to the sport.
“We are specifically working on different stadiums and sizes,” he said.
“There are many factors to consider such as access, capacity within the stadium and social distancing.
“But we will make a strong case and in the future we hope to see an increase in attendance at games.
The president and Ryan’s speech was notably less dramatic than Philip Browne’s contribution on behalf of the IRFU. Having previously focused on the negative impacts of the lockdown on GAA, the pair adopted a more collaborative and constructive tone.
Horan was asked whether self-regulation and consultation with councils would be acceptable to GAA if it meant large crowds could attend.
“We are on one island and even though we are in two jurisdictions, we did not want to leave one behind the other,” Horan said.
“Ulster has regulated crowds of 400 at the games and that has been very positive with the council acting in a very responsible and confident manner.
“If that responsibility was given to us at this stage in all 26 counties, we would carry it out.
“Ulster has put a limit of 400 in those places (below), although it is acceptable that those numbers could be higher.
“We are trying to hold our organization together on that front, and if they further expand the number of people, it could cause frustration in all 26 counties.
“But if self-regulation were allowed, we could be trusted to carry it out.”
When asked if any cases were related to direct GAA activity, Horan replied that none of the available evidence pointed to that.
“There have been Covid-19 incidents among GAA members and they were dealt with in different ways. Some clubs closed early and there was a nervousness that a lot of people had at first.
“But honestly, I feel and we are sure that, although the cases are collected in the GAA membership, they are not activity, neither in the play areas nor in training.”
Government funding of € 40 million was announced to help sports organizations cope with the consequences of the Covid pandemic for the three main field sports organizations: FAI, GAA and IRFU.
In addition, a Resilience Fund of up to € 10 million has been established to support National Sports Governing Bodies, a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to € 15 million to support clubs, and a Reboot and Renewal Fund Sports of up to 5 million euros.
GAA CEO Ryan added that the financial assistance had been gratefully received, it was extremely important to his organization, but added that more supplements may be needed.
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