ICSD Update on COVID-19

ICSD recognises the importance of maintaining the safety and health of athletes, coaches, ICSD staff and local organising committees during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 and the responses of the public health community and governments to it, remain fluid, data and recommendations are in constant change thus this page will be updated to reflect this process.

ICSD encourages all ICSD Members to consult and follow national, regional and local regulations around COVID-19. Local government and public health authorities’ recommendations should be adhered to, and should take precedence over any guidelines developed by International Sports Federations.

ICSD is continuing to monitor all official updates on COVID-19 with the health, safety and wellbeing of athletes, their entourage, officials and all other concerned parties as its top priority.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION UPDATES
The World Health Organisation is providing a range of advice and alerts to keep people updated on the latest developments regards COVID-19:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public
Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)
Rational use of personal protective equipment for COVID-19
World Health Organisation WhatsApp messaging service

ICSD CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The global escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak has led to postponement or cancellation of sport events. ICSD gives notice that the necessary steps have been taken to postpone a great number of ICSD-sanctioned events currently scheduled to take place in 2022.

• 2020 World Deaf Football Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2023;
• 2020 World Deaf Golf Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2022;
• 2020 World Deaf Sailing Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2022;
• 2020 World Deaf Shooting Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2023;
• 2020 World Deaf Table Tennis Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2023;
• 2020 World Deaf Youth Table Tennis Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2023;
• 2021 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships rescheduled to be hosted in 2025.

Health, safety and wellbeing of all athletes, their entourage, officials and the greater ICSD community continue to be the top priority for all ICSD relevant parties.

ICSD GUIDANCE FOR NATIONAL DEAF SPORTS FEDERATIONS
In order to facilitate a fast and safe return to sport activity, National Deaf Sports Federations should maintain a proactive approach to promoting a return to competition. The following suggestions will help to make that return happen as soon as possible.

• Maintain regular contact with local, regional, and national sport authorities;
• Ensure that the latest information on movement restrictions particularly in relation to organisation of sports competitions is obtained;
• Ensure compliance with all COVID-19 official recommendations in sport area;
• Isssue guidance for safe training and competitions’ participation to athletes, officials, coaches, and personnel.

ICSD Protocols to prevent the spread of infection

RETURN TO SPORT GUIDELINES FROM INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
Different International Sport Federations have drafted guidelines to support relative sport organisations and event organisers to get ready to restarting sport.

Should your Federation have elaborated some COVID-19 guidelines, please provide the ICSD Secretariat with the link to your document in order to update this page.

International Association of Athletics Federations
Badminton World Federation
International Basketball Federation
Federation Internationale de Football Association
International Hockey Federation
International Tennis Federation
International Ski Federation
Federation Internationale de Volleyball
United World Wrestling

RESUMPTION OF ICSD EVENTS
Resumption of ICSD sport events requires risk assessment and risk management. ICSD Members hosting ICSD-sanctioned event and Local Organising Committee should follow their own government’s regulations and recommendations related to sport and sport events, social distance, gatherings and travel.

Country hosting ICSD event will be required to confirm resumption of training and international sport activity along with submission of a plan for holding safe international event. Plan should be adapted to government requirements and status of COVID-19.

RISK ASSESSMENT
World Health Organisation’ general advice for mass gatherings is intending to help organisers with risk assessment:

World Health Organisation Risk Assessment for Sports – ICSD version
WHO Decision Tree
WHO Considerations for sports federations/sports event organisers when planning mass gatherings in the context of Covid-19

COVID-19 AND DISABILITY MOVEMENT
Despite being a population that is particularly at-risk to COVID-19, persons with disabilities face even greater inequalities in accessing healthcare during the pandemic due to inaccessible health information and environments, as well as selective medical guidelines and protocols that may magnify the discrimination that persons with disabilities face in healthcare provision.

Here are a range of useful resources that assess COVID-19 and its impact on people with disabilities:

International Disability Alliance (IDA) COVID-19 and the disability movement
WHO: Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
United Nations (UN) Policy Brief: A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19

MENTAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Athletes may experience some mental health challenges due to unexpected changes in the competition schedule or closed sport facilities along with lack of direct coaching and support. Mental health challenges may often be invisible to others, and athletes may have difficultly sharing it due to concern for adverse impact on their standing in sport.

Several athlete-friendly modules related to well-being, mental health, and COVID can be found here:

https://www.olympic.org/athlete365/well-being
https://www.olympic.org/athlete365/coronavirus/
Mental health & COVID-19
Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak