Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said in a statement last Monday to the House of Commons: ‘Spectator sports and business events will be free to resume inside and outside with capacity limits and social distancing, providing more social distancing, providing more consistency with indoor performances in theatres and concert halls.’’
Johnson didn’t specify a limit or percentage in regards to who can come, but Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden later confirmed on twitter that 4,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity limits – whichever is most convenient – would be in place in tier 1, dropping to 2,000 or 50 percent for indoor venues, while in tier 2 it will be 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, or 50 percent capacity.
What Does This Mean?
What this means for London Lions is that there will be restrictions for their games and with London being in tier 2 it will be 1,000 indoors, or 50 percent capacity. There has been no official statement from the league after Boris made the announcement.
Additionally, as a result of the pandemic games earlier on were played behind closed doors with only staff of the teams, players and officials are allowed on the premises. Subs must be socially distanced and players must try and keep contact with each other to a minimum. The players are also in a strict bubble at the moment and tests are conducted regularly to ensure there aren’t any players spreading the disease. The courts are all thoroughly sanitised before and after games too.
As a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, London Lions live stream their games free of charge on the Lions YouTube channel.
Life During Restrictions
There hasn’t been any reports of a London Lions player testing positive which is testament to how well they have taken the necessary precautions including wearing of face mask and appropriate social distancing.
During lockdown, Lions star, Justin Robinson, was left frustrated by wait for his sport to emerge from lockdown measures. Having seen other sports such as football, tennis and cricket return following lockdown, Robinson feels the inferior treatment of basketball encapsulates the racial prejudice the sport has suffered for decades.
Looking Ahead
The British Basketball League season finally commenced on October 30th. Talks with the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport over funding posted the beginning of the season by almost a month.
Robinson had this to say in regards to not being able play basketball while other sports returned during lockdown:
“We all know the huge bias around basketball, it’s nothing new,’’ said the 33 year old, who made his debut for Great Britain in 2009.
“It’s been that way for decades, decades and decades.
“There is definitely a racial undertone in terms of basketball being a black dominated sported by minorities and kids from the inner-city.
“Maybe the government don’t see it as an important sport. If that is the case then it’s very unfortunate,” he said.
To keep themselves fit and focused the Lions will be spending a lot of time together in gym, staying sharp and ready for whatever is thrown at them.
The situation for the London Lions is all up in the air right now, there are rumours that Kervin Bristol has left and others might follow.
It’s almost a completely new Lions side and they haven’t gelled as quickly as Head coach Vince Macauley would have liked them to.
However, with the recent news confirming that limited fans will be allowed back into grounds, this may benefit the Lions ahead of their long season.
Featured Image by: Brandon Thacker
