Tipos extraliga reacts to new measures: Government promises everyone that vaccination is a win and freedom – ŠPORT.sk

The clubs of the TIPOS Extraliga hockey team are fully aware of and understand the seriousness of the current situation caused by the third wave of the pandemic and its effects on the health care system in Slovakia. We would also like to thank the health professionals for their often superhuman commitment to the fight against coronavirus.

As representatives of Slovak professional hockey, we believed that thanks to the support of vaccinations, the situation from last season will not be repeated and matches will be able to be played in front of well-filled aspects. We are clearly in favor of positive motivation for people. The government has also promised everyone that vaccination is a win and a freedom.

Therefore, we absolutely did not count on restrictions for vaccinated fans, which were approved by the government with effect from 22 November. We regret that while an unlimited number of people can enter the shopping malls in the OP mode, only a minimal number of people who are vaccinated or have passed COVID-19 will get to the hockey stadiums. Due to the size of the organizational teams and the number of players, the participation of fans in stadiums under these conditions is practically impossible.

Playing without fans will be liquidating for some participants in the highest hockey competition. They only survived last season with difficulty, nor did they manage to recover from the loss of income from the ban on spectators in the stands and receive another big blow.

If the restrictions are not compensated, it will also mean the premature end of the season. Players and members of the implementation teams will lose their jobs and fans will lose the opportunity to watch the most popular sport in Slovakia. The current situation will have a great impact on the country’s representation at top events and on the whole Slovak sport, not only professional but also youth.

As supporters of positive motivation, we ask the competent authorities to reconsider the measures and, following the example of the surrounding and other European countries, to allow more fans in the OP regime to enter sports events, taking into account the maximum capacity of the stadiums. It would be a positive motivation for people and at the same time a reward for all those responsible.