Abu Dhabi resumes indoor sporting activities, gyms can operate for 24 hours

Indoor sporting activities can resume across Abu Dhabi from July 1, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) has announced.

It marks the second phase in reopening facilities such as gymnasiums, provided gym-goers, trainers and technical staff adhere to the prescribed guidelines and precautionary measures.

Gymnasiums can accommodate up to 40 per cent capacity and remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only children above the age of 12 and adults up to the age of 60 will be allowed.

Other indoor sporting facilities allowed to resume activities include men’s fitness centres, women’s fitness centres, body building centres, billiards and snooker centres, yoga centres and bowling centres.

Guidelines for those attending these facilities include undergoing thermal check-ups before and during training sessions, wearing face masks and hand gloves at all times, and changing them frequently.

Participants must observe physical distancing (at least two metres), carry personal hygiene kits, and train individually – except during group training sessions.

Key guidelines for facilities include ensuring that soaps, hand sanitisers and gel for hand washing are provided throughout the sports facility.

Showers, saunas, changing rooms and prayer rooms are not to be used.

A room must be designated to isolate suspected Covid-19 cases, and thermal checkup devices must be installed at entrances.

Guidelines for trainers and technical staff include undergoing Covid-19 testing before resuming activities, wearing masks and gloves at all times and changing them frequently.

Staff must also sterilise sports equipment before use and every hour, maintain physical distancing, and sterilise surfaces and equipment after use (every two hours).

Prior approval of the relevant inspection committee will be required before resuming activities, it added.

.@AbuDhabiSC announces the resumption of individual indoor sporting activities across Abu Dhabi, including gyms, which are now able to operate 24/7, provided gym-goers, trainers and technical staff adhere to the prescribed guidelines and precautionary measures pic.twitter.com/1CwqjUWmBk

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) June 27, 2020

“The second stage includes procedures and controls for sports facilities, technical staff, players, and practitioners, as an extension of the success of the first phase, which witnessed intense community turnout and commitment from community members and institutions”, official news agency WAM reported.