MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS
GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF SPORTS
PRESS OFFICE
Athens, March 10, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Following the issuance of the following legislation:
A) Legislative Act "Urgent measures to avoid and limit the spread of coronavirus" (Government Gazette A' 42 / 25-02-2020),
B) Joint Ministerial Decision "Imposition of measures temporarily prohibiting the presence of the public at sporting events, the operation of conference venues and the operation of Open Elderly Care Centers (K.A.P.I.)" (Government Gazette B' 726 / 08-03-2020)
C) Joint Ministerial Decision "Imposition of the measure of temporary prohibition of the operation of sports event venues and other sports facilities with the presence of more than sixty (60) people in the competition area where the sport is held" (Government Gazette B' 782/10.3.2020) which states the following:
"We decide to temporarily ban the operation, throughout the Territory, from 10.3.2020 to 24.3.2020, of all indoor and outdoor sports venues and other sports facilities, for individual and team sports, provided that there are more than sixty (60) people in total in the competition area of the sport, as stated in the recommendation of the National Committee for the Protection of Public Health against the COVID-19 coronavirus dated 10.3.2020"
we clarify the following:
1. The presence of the public at sporting events (official matches and training sessions) taking place in all sports infrastructures of the Territory, in indoor and outdoor spaces, in individual and team sports, is prohibited, from 9.3.2020 to 22.3.2020, for preventive public health reasons, as stated in the recommendation of the National Committee for the Protection of Public Health against the COVID-19 coronavirus dated 7.3.2020.
2. During official sporting events, the following are permitted to be present inside the sports facility (open or closed stadium, indoor gym, swimming pool, etc.) and outside the competition area:
a) the absolutely necessary personnel for the operation and security of the sports facility and the smooth conduct of the competition,
b) in the event of radio and television coverage of the sports competition, the personnel absolutely necessary for its radio and television coverage and
c) no more than one (1) journalist per Media for the coverage of the sports competition and after the approval of the PSAT.
Regarding the persons permitted to be present within the competition area where the sport is held, the provisions of the Joint Ministerial Decision (Government Gazette B' 782/10.3.2020) apply.
3. Team delegations to sports competitions consist of the persons provided for in the Competition Regulations of each sports Federation or Authority, plus up to 5 representatives of each team, who will be additionally declared on the competition sheet.
In the event of a violation of the above provisions, the violations are recorded on the match sheet by the referee or match observer, as the case may be, and the disciplinary procedure provided for in the Disciplinary Regulation of each Federation for the violation of holding a match or sporting event behind closed doors is followed, with referral to the competent Disciplinary Committee for the imposition of the prescribed sanctions.
In any case, local administrations or management bodies of sports facilities may temporarily suspend their operation if there is a need to immediately take preventive measures (e.g. disinfection).
As regards the General Assemblies of the Federations, they can be held within the next period of time referred to in the above Joint Ministerial Decisions, only if the measures defined therein are adhered to.
Federations, Associations and Organizing Authorities are invited to immediately harmonize with this circular.