City's sports venues slowly kicking off again
Shanghai’s sports and fitness facilities are gradually reopening, but group activities and training courses remain suspended.
Venues include basketball and tennis courts, football pitches, gyms and neighborhood facilities.
Operators can apply to district sports authorities to resume business and open again after getting approval in two working days.
But swimming pools, unventilated or underground spaces like yoga and cycling training rooms will remain closed. Group fitness dance classes in gyms also remain suspended.
Zhao Guangsheng, vice director of the Shanghai Sports Bureau, said Shanghai has 2,792 registered public or commercial sports venues and fitness centers. By Thursday, 1,090 had handed in work resumption applications, and 588 had already reopened.
Sports competitions remain suspended.
“To allow citizens to exercise safely, the sports bureau has made very clear and detailed work resumption requirements, including adequate sanitation materials and proper training of staff,” said Zhao.
Population density in sports venues should be fewer than 50 people per 100 square meters. Operators can introduce a booking system to control the number of visitors.
Tennis, badminton and table tennis are temporarily limited to singles training; boxing, taekwondo and fencing can only organize single-person training to avoid physical contact; gyms should clean machines after each use; basketball courts and football pitches all have user number restrictions.
Users are reminded to wear masks and warm up properly before exercising.
Rucker Park resumed operation last Friday but is restricting the number of visitors and introduced booking system.
There are restrictions on the use of sports equipment.
Shanghai University of Sport professor Gao Binghong suggested people avoid long and intense activities when wearing masks.
“Masks cover nose and mouth, affecting oxygen intake,” said Gao. “Sometimes masks partially block the view, so I suggest people avoid taking part in confrontational activities like basketball when wearing masks.”
Gao also gave tips to children and the elderly, who are advised to exercise at home.
“The youngsters can skip rope or climb steps for cardiopulmonary training. They can use towels for a tug-of-war with parents, and go to the balcony more often for sun and fresh air,” said Gao. “The elderly can practice gentle exercise like Tai Chi to stretch their muscles.”
Shanghai University of Sport professor Gao Binghong shows how to do stretches at a press conference on Thursday.
