Italy announces resumption of training for sports teams

The Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced that professional sports teams can return to training.

While making this announcement on Sunday April 26, 2020, the country’s Sports Minister, Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora, said, “While the lockdown directive is to be eased on May 4, sporting activities would be allowed in small and wider areas but without spectators.”

Since the announcement of the lockdown directive on March 19, Serie A league has been suspended with twelve more rounds remaining to be completed.

With this announcement, Serie A could resume playing games in June though without fans gathering in the stadium. It also would give the Premiere League the hope of completing the 2019/2020 season.

Speaking about the sporting activities reopening, Giuseppe Conte said, “The sports minister would work with soccer system and other professional sports to find a road map that we have already partly defined in terms of the resumption of individual training on May 4 and teams on May 18.”

“Then we’ll evaluate if the conditions will allow the leagues that were suspended to be completed,” Conte added.

Commending people for having well endured persevered through the lockdown period in the midst of coronavirus pandemic, Conte said, “You have all shown strength, courage, sense of responsibility and community.”

“Now the phase of living with the virus begins for everyone and we must be aware that during Phase Two, there is the risk we’ll see the curve climb in some areas of the country,” added, Conte.

Conte reminded people, athletes and players to comply with social distance or at least one meter apart from one another.

“It’ll be even more important to maintain social distancing, at least one metre. Even when seeing family, we must still maintain this precaution, because the scientists tell us that at least one out of four infections comes via family members,” he said.

While giving a serious warning about the unavoidable consequences if the social distancing other is not respected, Conte said, “If we do not respect social distancing, the curve will climb again, so will the number of deaths, and we will have irreversible damage to our economy.”

“If you love this country, then respect social distancing,” he added.