Island sports teams have begun preparing to accept only fully vaccinated fans for indoor 颅ticketed events, as per the 颅vaccine passport details announced Tuesday by the 颅provincial government.
鈥淚 am 100 per cent in favour of this and have no issues with it,鈥� said Pete Zubersky, GM and co-owner of the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, whose opening home game is Friday at Panorama Recreation Centre.
鈥淭he only way out of this 颅pandemic is for everybody to get double vaccinated.鈥�
That point was brought home when the VIJHL regular-season opening game, scheduled for tonight at The Q Centre between Westshore Wolves and Lake Cowichan Kraken, was 颅postponed due to COVID-19 颅protocol regarding the Kraken.
鈥淚鈥檓 all for it. We have to do our part in sports,鈥� said Ian Birnie, director of player 颅personnel for the Wolves.
At least one dose of vaccination will be required of entering fans beginning Sept. 13 and two doses beginning Oct. 24.
鈥淚 really look forward to seeing a hockey game in the fall or early next winter,鈥� provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
鈥淟et鈥檚 support our sports teams so we can get back to having those important things together. This vaccine card is another one of those tools that helps us do that.鈥�
The Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League, who draw thousands more fans than the VIJHL, were asked about their reaction and how they plan to implement the vaccine-passport protocols for their spectators.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have any 颅comment right now. We will release further details in the coming weeks,鈥� said Royals communications specialist Jessica Rochwerg, in an email Tuesday.
The sa国际传媒 vaccination passport policy for ticketed indoor sporting events was first announced Aug. 23.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice of have clarity,鈥� said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price, at that time. 鈥淣ow we will work together with our fan base to provide a safe environment for them in the stands [at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre].鈥�
University of Victoria athletic director Clint Hamilton was away Tuesday and unavailable for comment regarding Vikes basketball games this season at CARSA gym. Hamilton, however, told the Times 颅Colonist last month when the vaccine 颅passport was announced: 鈥淲e will take appropriate 颅measures operationally to make sure that we are meeting the 颅requirements. Public safety has always been our No. 1 颅concern and we will do whatever is 颅necessary.鈥�
Premier John Horgan made the announcement: 鈥淭he sa国际传媒 Vaccine Card is a way to get to those places where we want to be, at a sporting event or going to the theatre 鈥� large 颅gatherings can take place with double vaccinations.鈥�
The regulations are for ticketed indoor sporting events only, so will not affect parents, family or friends attending youth sports games.
The double-vaccination 颅regulation also does not apply to outdoor sports such as Pacific FC games in the pro 颅soccer Canadian Premier League or sa国际传媒鈥檚 rugby World Cup qualifier Oct. 2 against 颅Uruguay or Chile, both at 颅Starlight 颅Stadium in Langford, or the 颅University of Victoria Vikes sa国际传媒 West soccer games beginning Friday and running through the fall at Centennial Stadium. Nor will it apply to the Westshore Rebels or 颅Vancouver Island Raiders in the sa国际传媒 颅Football Conference this fall.
