Fitness sector looks for safe ways to reopen

AMMAN — The necessary health and safety measures needed to reopen the fitness sectors, with its gyms, fitness centres and sports parks was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) and the Jordan Sports Medicine Federation.

In light of the fitness sector shutting down a week before the nation-wide lockdown commenced, the virtual meeting between the Olympic committee and the federation laid down the different scenarios for the return of the sector and the necessary measures needed to accompany each one.

After more than two months of closure, the sector has been demanding the resumption of work, with gym owners, personal trainers, fitness instructors and gym dieticians voicing their requests on social media.

JOC Secretary General Nasser Majali said that the preventive measures taken by the government to limit the spread of the coronavirus were necessary, this ultimately resulted in “great economic, operational and health losses” to the sector.

Majali thus presented a recommendation during the meeting to form a permanent committee between the Sports Medicine Federation and the JOC so that it can be tasked with drafting general safety guidelines for the return of the sports sector and its long-term operation in light of the new way of adjusting to life during and after the crisis.

President of the Sports Medicine Federation Mazen Qaqish said in a subsequent press statement that the federation is “willing to engage in consultations between its members and outside experts in the field of sports medicine to brainstorm the best solutions and health procedures appropriate to the current situation”.

He pointed out that both the federation, the JOC and everyone else in the sector is “keen to return the sports sector with all its facilities as soon as the needed health procedures are made clear to sports federations, fitness centres and gyms, sports clubs, sports academies and the training grounds for Olympic national teams.

“Once the sector is reopened, hopefully soon, the joint committee will need to dedicate teams to and periodically monitor facilities to ensure their commitment to implementing health measures and protecting citizens,” concluded Majali.