Island sports teams will begin preparing their door staff to check for proof of double vaccination before allowing spectators to enter arenas and gyms and other indoor venues.
Dan Price, head coach and general manager of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League, said his organization was looking for a sense of direction from the top. They got it with the provincial government鈥檚 announcement Monday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice of have clarity,鈥� said Price.
The WHL had already announced mandatory double vaccinations for all players and staff.
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� said Price.
WHL commissioner Ron Robison responded to the sa国际传媒鈥檚 request for a comment: 鈥淭he Western Hockey League and our five member clubs fully respect and appreciate the position taken by the government of British Columbia. We are committed to following public health guidelines in each of the provincial and state jurisdictions in which we operate.鈥�
The regulation, which commences Sept. 13 and will be reassessed in January, will also affect the start of the sa国际传媒 West basketball season at CARSA gymnasium.
鈥淲e will take appropriate measures operationally to make sure that we are meeting the requirements,鈥� said University of Victoria athletic director Clint Hamilton.
鈥淧ublic safety has always been our No. 1 concern and we will do whatever is necessary.鈥�
The Camosun College Chargers and Vancouver Island University Mariners have passionate volleyball fans who fill their gyms each fall. Chargers men鈥檚 head coach Charles Parkinson welcomed Monday鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great idea and I鈥檓 all for it. Safety has been No.1 through everything we have done through the pandemic,鈥� he said.
鈥淧layers thrive off the energy of the crowd and I鈥檓 in favour of anything that allows fans to be there safely and in the gym and cheering on the players.鈥�
With 74.9 per cent of the eligible sa国际传媒 population double vaccinated, Premier John Horgan described it as a 鈥渕ajority view.鈥�
鈥淗aving 75 per cent of the population vaccinated is a lot more than zero, which is where we were at this point last year,鈥� said Parkinson, volleyball colour broadcaster for CBC at five Olympic Games.
That put into perspective how much the situation has advanced. Most leagues and seasons, including college volleyball, were looking at season cancellations at this point last year. Spectators in the stands weren鈥檛 even in the discussion.
鈥淥ur players are champing at the bit to get going. Having fans able to cheer them on in the [PISE] gym is the topping on all of it,鈥� said Parkinson.
The provincial move is a no-brainer, said Pete Zubersky, GM and co-owner of the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely awesome,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think the federal government should make it mandatory [for indoor sports] across the country. Then we can all move on with our lives.鈥�
The regulations are for ticketed indoor sporting events, so will not affect parents, family or friends attending youth hockey, basketball or volleyball games and the like.
No changes were announced to the current rules limiting organized indoor sports events to 50 spectators or up to 50 per cent of total capacity, whichever greater.
Proof of double vaccination will not apply to outdoor sporting events, which are considered safer settings. Spectators attending Pacific FC games in the current Canadian Premier League pro soccer season, or those for the Westshore Rebels or Vancouver Island Raiders in the upcoming sa国际传媒 Football Conference season, will not have to prove vaccination status.
Outdoor organized seated events can continue to have a capacity of 5,000 people, or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater. About 4,000 fans were in the Westshore Motorsports Park grandstand for the Daffodil Cup on Saturday night and about 5,000 are expected for the Canadian Championship first-round soccer game between Pacific FC and the Vancouver 颅Whitecaps of Major League Soccer on 颅Thursday at Starlight Stadium.
