GOVERNMENT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
As the governing body for Snowsports, our primary concern at this time is the health and welfare of our entire Snowsport community. We support the Government imposed guidelines and legislation to reduce the spread of the virus in the hope that this will allow us to return to our sport as soon as safely possible.
Snowsport England would like to thank everyone across the entire Snowsport community who are adhering to the Government imposed guidelines and legislation regarding restrictions to our sport. We understand that this is a challenging time for people but ask for your continued support and compliance to help us return to our sport as soon as safely possible.
We have received a number of enquiries with regard to the Government legislation and restrictions both for travel within the UK and for overseas travel. As the National Governing Body for Snowsports in England, it is our responsibility and duty of care for our members and community to ensure that this legislation is interpretated and communicated for Snowsport. We continue to work alongside GBS and the other Home Nations to ensure consistency of messaging for clarity with regard to travel.
Currently in England the law and key message remains ‘you must stay at home’. A breach of these rules may invoke a police sanction (typically but not limited to a fixed penalty notice) and also may result in your Snowsport England liability insurance being invalid (due to acting outside of the law).
For your information please see the most common Question and Answers below.
Snowsport England would again like to thank all those who have adhered to the legislation and urge you to continue to do so for the health and welfare of the country and our community.
Question: Can I travel within the UK?
Answer: The Government has announced, you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:
- Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
- Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
- Exercise with your household, support bubble, or one other person – this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area
- Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
- Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness, or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
- Attend education or childcare – for those eligible
Question: What about if I want to travel to another country to train or compete?
Answer: You can only travel internationally where you first have a legally permitted reason to leave home (see above). In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting. If you do need to travel overseas (and are legally permitted to do so, for example, because it is for work), even if you are returning to a place you’ve visited before, you should look at the rules in place at your destination and the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice.
Question: Who is classed as an elite athlete?
Answer: For the purposes of Government guidelines, the definition of an ‘elite athlete’ means a person who is:
- An individual who derives a living from competing in a sport
- A senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body
- A member of the senior training squad for a relevant sporting body, or
- Aged 16 or above and on an elite development pathway
As per the Government Guidelines, an “elite development pathway” means: a development pathway established by the national governing body of a sport to prepare athletes (a) so that they may derive a living from competing in that sport, or (b) to compete in that sport in the Olympic or Paralympic Games. The majority of this would be covered by GB Snowsport squads. Please note, if you are on a home nations pathway, you should contact your home nation directly.
For further information please contact Ian Findlay by email: i.findlay@snowsportengland.org.uk