Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Monday 23rd November 2020

Physical activity is crucial for staying active. Due to new national restrictions, all indoor and outdoor sport facilities must close until 2 December. Grassroots sports will return soon as possible.

Sport and physical activity including all forms of swimming are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. Regular exercise has been shown to treat, manage and prevent a number of physical and mental health conditions. We recognise the role swimming plays in this and its wider benefits in building endurance, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress.

Nobody wanted to be in the position of having to introduce further National Restrictions. However, as the Prime Minister said, with the virus spreading faster than expected we cannot allow our health system to be overwhelmed. Therefore, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December indoor and outdoor leisure including swimming pools and lidos etc. will need to close.

The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. In order for these measures to have the greatest impact, we will all need to sacrifice doing some things that we would otherwise like to do, for a short period of time. We have not introduced further exemptions because once you unpick one activity the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised.

However, people can still leave their homes to exercise in public outdoor places, with their household or on their own, or with one person from another household or support bubble. This includes swimming in the sea or any other outdoor body of water to which the public has legitimate access. However, if in doubt, people should check with the relevant owner or local authority of the relevant body of water before swimming. But people can still exercise in outdoor public places. This would include swimming in the sea, or any other outdoor body of water to which the public has legitimate access. However, if in doubt, people should check with the relevant owner or local authority of the relevant body of water.

In order for these measures to have the greatest impact, we will all need to sacrifice doing some things that we would otherwise like to do, for a short period of time. We have not introduced further exemptions because once you unpick one activity the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised.

As soon as we're in a position to start lifting restrictions, grassroots sports will be one of the first to return. DCMS and Sport England will continue to work with National Governing Bodies to allow the safe return of all sports as an immediate priority after the national measures have been relaxed.

People are still allowed to leave their homes for exercise and recreation outdoors, with their household or on their own, or with one person from another household or support bubble. DCMS and Sport England will continue to work with National Governing Bodies to allow the safe return of all sports as an immediate priority after the national measures have been relaxed.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport