The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

36. Elite sportsperson

Definition

57.—(1) An elite sportsperson is a person who is—

(a) a domestic elite sportsperson (see definition in paragraph 58),

(b) an international elite sportsperson (see definition in paragraph 59),

(c) a domestic ancillary sportsperson, (see definition in paragraph 60) or

(d) an international ancillary sportsperson (see definition in paragraph 61).

(2) Further definitions relevant to this entry are given in paragraph 62.

58.—(1) For the purposes of this entry “domestic elite sportsperson” means an individual who is a domestic elite athlete.

(2) For the purposes of this entry “elite athlete” means an individual who—

(a) derives a living from competing in a sport,

(b) plays in a professional league or competition,

(c) is a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body, or

(d) is on an elite development pathway for a major competition.

59.—(1) For the purposes of this entry “international elite sportsperson” means an individual who is an international elite athlete.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph “international elite athlete” means an individual who—

(a) derives a living from competing in a sport,

(b) plays in a professional league or competition,

(c) is a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body, or

(d) is on an elite development pathway for a major competition.

60.  For the purposes of this entry “domestic ancillary sportsperson” means an individual essential to—

(a) the running of an elite sports event, including—

(i) operational staff essential to the running of that elite sports event,

(ii) event officials and referees, or

(b) the support of a domestic elite sportsperson, including—

(i) sports team medical, logistical, technical and administration staff,

(ii) individual domestic elite sportsperson medical and technical support staff,

(iii) horse grooms and trainers,

(iv) motorsport mechanics and technical staff,

(v) the parent or carer of a domestic elite sportsperson under the age of 18.

61.  For the purposes of this entry “international ancillary sportsperson” means an individual essential to—

(a) the running of a specified competition, including—

(i) operational staff essential to the running of a specified competition,

(ii) competition officials and referees,

(iii) broadcast staff and journalists covering a specified competition, or

(b) the support of an international elite sportsperson, including—

(i) sports team medical, logistical, technical and administration staff,

(ii) individual international elite sportsperson medical and technical support staff,

(iii) horse grooms and trainers,

(iv) motorsport mechanics and technical staff,

(v) the parent or carer of an international elite sportsperson under the age of 18.

62.  For the purposes of this entry—

“elite development pathway” means a development pathway established by a recognised national governing body of a sport to prepare sportspersons—

(a)

so that they may derive a living from competing in that sport, or

(b)

to compete in a major competition in that sport,

“elite sports event” means a specified competition or other sporting event in which the participants compete—

(a)

to derive a living, or

(b)

to qualify for the right to compete in a major competition,

“major competition” means the following, where they are scheduled to be held in 2021 or 2022—

(a)

the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Commonwealth Games,

(b)

a European, World or international championship organised by the international governing body of a sport, or national governing bodies of a sport,

(c)

an inter-county league or inter-county competition in Northern Ireland or Ireland, where that league or competition is organised by the national governing body of a sport,

“major competition qualifying event” means a specified competition or other sporting event in which the participants compete to qualify for the right to compete in a major competition.

“relevant sporting body” in relation to a sportsperson means—

(a)

the recognised national governing body of a sport which may nominate athletes to compete in a major competition, or

(b)

the regional governing body of a sport which may nominate athletes to represent a county in Northern Ireland or Ireland in an inter-county league or inter-county competition, where that league or competition is organised by the national governing body of the sport,

“senior representative” means an individual who is considered by a relevant sporting body to be a candidate to qualify to compete—

(a)

in a major competition,

(b)

on behalf of a county in Northern Ireland or Ireland, in an inter-county league or inter-county competition where that league or competition is organised by the national governing body of a sport,

“specified competition” means a competition which is specified as such by the Department, and the Department may publish details of specified competitions in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate.

Condition for partial exemption from requirement to self-isolate

63.—(1) An elite sportsperson must provide, on arrival in Northern Ireland, written evidence from a United Kingdom, Northern Irish or Irish sport’s national governing body, that the elite sportsperson satisfies the definition of an elite sportsperson who is exempt under this entry.

(2) A domestic elite sportsperson must either—

(a) have been outside Northern Ireland in order to compete in an elite sports event, and has returned to Northern Ireland with the intention of continuing activities as a sportsperson,

(b) have been outside Northern Ireland in order to participate in training for a major competition or a major competition qualifying event and has returned to Northern Ireland with the intention of continuing activities as a sportsperson, or

(c) be a United Kingdom sportsperson who is not habitually resident in the United Kingdom and has travelled to Northern Ireland in order to participate in training for, or to compete in, an elite sports event.

(3) An international elite sportsperson must have travelled to Northern Ireland in order to participate in a specified competition.

(4) A domestic ancillary sportsperson must either—

(a) have been outside Northern Ireland in order to participate in the running of an elite sports event, or

(b) have been outside Northern Ireland or in order to support a domestic elite sportsperson who satisfies sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (b),

and has returned to Northern Ireland with the intention of continuing activities as a domestic ancillary sportsperson.

(5) An international ancillary sportsperson must have travelled to Northern Ireland in order to—

(a) participate in the running of an elite sports event, or

(b) support an international elite sportsperson who satisfies paragraph (3).

Nature of partial exemption from requirement to self-isolate

64.—(1) Where P is a domestic elite sportsperson, P is not in breach of regulation 10 in respect of the following—

(a) where P travels to, from or between, or attends the location of—

(i) an elite sports event in which P is competing,

(ii) training for an elite sports event,

(b) where P enters into or remains in isolation with—

(i) domestic elite sportspersons or international elite sportspersons who are competing in, or training for that elite sports event, or

(ii) domestic ancillary sportspersons or international ancillary sportspersons involved in that elite sports event.

(2) Where P is an international elite sportsperson, P is not in breach of regulation 10 in respect of the following—

(a) where P travels to, from or between, or attends the location of—

(i) the specified competition in which P is competing, or

(ii) training for the specified competition in which P is competing,

(b) where P enters into or remains in isolation with—

(i) domestic elite sportspersons or international elite sportspersons who are competing in or training for that specified competition, or

(ii) domestic ancillary sportspersons or international ancillary sportspersons involved in that specified competition.

(3) Where P is a domestic ancillary sportsperson, P is not in breach of regulation 10 in respect of the following—

(a) where P travels to, from, or between, or attends the location of—

(i) a place in which P’s presence is essential to the running of an elite sports event,

(ii) a place in which P provides essential support to a domestic elite sportsperson who is competing or in training for an elite sports event,

(b) where P enters into or remains in isolation with—

(i) domestic elite sportspersons or international elite sportspersons who are competing in or training for that elite sports event or any other elite sports event, or

(ii) domestic ancillary sportspersons or international ancillary sportspersons involved in that elite sports event or any other elite sports event.

(4) Where P is an international ancillary sportsperson, P is not in breach of regulation 10 in respect of the following—

(a) where P travels to, from, or between, or attends the location of—

(i) a place in which P’s presence is essential to the running of an elite sports event,

(ii) a place in which P provides essential support to an international elite sportsperson who is competing or in training for an elite sports event,

(iii) the specified competition, or

(iv) training for the specified competition,

(b) where P enters into or remains in isolation with—

(i) domestic elite sportspersons or international elite sportspersons who are competing in or training for that that specified competition, or

(ii) domestic ancillary sportspersons or international ancillary sportspersons involved in that specified competition.