In the absence of revised guidance or direction regarding resumption of indoor sports events, TTI competitive activity remains suspended and the National Championships, proposed for August, will not now take place before September.
The situation regarding the 2021/2022 Calendar will be kept under review, however, it is reasonable to assume that there is now a likelihood of a delayed start to the 2021/2022 season, and a consequent knock on effect on what/when tournaments will take place. It is anticipated that some dates of events will now have to be amended, and some events may be cancelled.
On foot of revised guidance received this week from the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland, permissions remain in place for normal Club training in accordance with TTI protocols, however Summer Camp activity is not permitted under this revised guidance and Summer Camps should not go ahead. This has impacted on the resumption of training for our National Junior Squad.
TTI have been actively representing our members at every opportunity, including at meetings and contacts with Sport Ireland, with the Department of Sport and the Minister, and with the Federation of Irish Sport, and have been forthright in advocating for the full return of our members and our activities, as in other sectors, and in a manner fully aligned with good practice as contained within our existing protocols. Following various meetings involving National Governing Bodies of indoor sports, the Federation of Irish Sport and the indoor NGBs will next week be meeting again with representatives of Sport Ireland to explore options, and have separately agreed a more focused and proactive approach in the event that next weeks meeting does not satisfactorily progress matters. In any case, and in the event that our other actions do not meet with more short term success, we are advised to prepare for an Autumn return of indoor sport. We will be seeking greater clarity on the precise time frames involved in this advisory.
Behind the scenes, the work of the Association has never been busier, and we remain grateful to our staff and volunteers for all that they are doing during ever more challenging, vexatious, and stressful conditions. We sympathise hugely with our members, and especially our junior players, who have had so much taken from them in terms of competition, practice, development and experiences, and hope that we may be moving towards, at least, the beginning of the end.