Lochaber 2021 Scottish 6 Days

[Arnold]

Out of interest, are you considering the AM/PM idea described earlier? So two 6-day events for 1,000 people run in parallel, one in the mornings and one in the afternoons.

I guess your main problem would be volunteer / trader fatigue, and getting controls in and out in time, but otherwise seems like a feasible solution to let everyone run every day.

[Gross]

t level 1 it's Nicola and Jason who are inviting thousands of people into Lochaber

Taking that view is passing the buck Graeme You know as well as anyone that the Scottish Government establish the regulations and beyond that it's down to the responsibility of the various organisations.

The Lochaber 6 Days 'invitation' has nothing to do with the Scottish Government.

[Freefall]

Arnold I don't think an am/pm option is on the cards. Adding another layer of complexity, especially where we have restricted access with roads in and out. Note that there will be no traders. Part of the sportscotland conditions was the dispersal of competitors post run.

[RoT]

RoT.... I'm sure you're not as stupid as you sound Your proposal is to convert a competition of 2000 into 2 competitions of 1000. You will still be inviting 2000 + into Lochaber for the 6 days.

Ultimately you are suggesting we risk the health of the people of Scotland so you can run around a forest for 3 days....

Of course if the virus dies off and the vaccination is completed the entire debate becomes a non issue.

Gross...I am not stupid, but your posts about me ARE abusive and I request that you moderate your language.

I am proposing 6 events of 1000 competitors each, entirely within the rules.

I am not proposing to risk anyone’s health.

Sure there will be 2000 competitors staying in Lochaber for the week along with the thousands of other visitors, who the last time I looked were being welcomed by the authorities, but clearly not by the likes of yourself....

[Spookster]

You will still be inviting 2000 + into Lochaber for the 6 days.

At level 1 it's Nicola and Jason who are inviting thousands of people into Lochaber. Only one post ago, you said you trusted them...

For us, it's not a question of whether we're coming to Fort William (we're coming anyway, because the rules allow it and we need a holiday), but rather a question of what we're going to do when we get there! Going orienteering for six days will feel safer from a Covid perspective than going to the various other tourist attractions, tea shops, etc.

I don't envy the organisers having to make this very difficult decision. Whatever is decided is fine with me.

[Gross]

I am proposing 6 events of 1000 competitors each, entirely within the rules.

I am not proposing to risk anyone’s health.

I'm afraid you miss my point. Your proposal goes against the spirit of the law. Add into the equation that much of northern England is now under advice to stay home & not travel do you suggest that there is a blanket ban on those from the NW?

As things stand 2000+ travelling from throughout the UK does pose a risk to the health of the Scottish people.

Imagine the damage to the reputation of orienteering if a 2000+ or 2 x 1000+ competition became a superspreader?

Still, it's ok if you get to run in a forest

[RoT]

I am proposing 6 events of 1000 competitors each, entirely within the rules.

I am not proposing to risk anyone’s health.

I'm afraid you miss my point. Your proposal goes against the spirit of the law. Add into the equation that much of northern England is now under advice to stay home & not travel do you suggest that there is a blanket ban on those from the NW?

As things stand 2000+ travelling from throughout the UK does pose a risk to the health of the Scottish people.

Imagine the damage to the reputation of orienteering if a 2000+ or 2 x 1000+ competition became a superspreader?

Still, it's ok if you get to run in a forest

I entirely understand your point, I just disagree with it!

There are tens, if not hundreds thousands of people travelling to and within Scotland now and holidays in Scotland are being promoted (see Visit Scotland website)

There is no such thing as the ‘spirit of the law’. You just wish to interpret law to suit your views on the topic. Organisers of events can only work to the actual rules, or we end up with anarchy of the loudest ‘interpreters’ dictating to the law abiding majority.

[Gross]

I entirely understand your point, I just disagree with it!

Lets just agree to disagree... but remember your great white leader in Downing Street has stated that he will trust people to follow their own personal responsibility.

Many of those thousands are wandering about without masks, emptying chemical toilets at the road side, leaving litter everywhere they go.

Most formal tourist places follow very strict covid protocols and are operating well below capacity... even in the Western Isles which is in level 0 (I was there last week).

Enjoy your 3 days in the forest if that's what happens but just remember the health of the Scottish people. Funny, no supporter of 2 x 3 has yet suggested taking a covid test 3 days before arrival and each day before the competitions. Or showing proof of vaccination or any other of the preventative measures....

And finally.... your suggestion (should level 0 not be achieved) is to alter the entire concept of the 6 Days to fit the 'rules' rather than accept that under level 1 rules an orienteering event of 2000+ is not allowed. Such is life

[pete.owens]

The purpose of the numbers limit is not to stop people travelling (if you wanted to do that you would impose a travel ban). The purpose is to minimise the risk of a superspeading event at a large gathering. It would apply equally if the event was restricted to residents of Fort William. So if it is proposed tho run the event with a limit of 1000 (including volunteers and organisers) then that is entirly within both the spirit and letter of the regulation - not trying to get round the rules.

In terms of people travelling from all over the UK - Scotland currently has the highest infection rate of the four nations (though not the Highland Region). If the organisers are going to set about pruning the entries, a good starting point would be encouraging those from areas where travelling is discouraged to witdraw.

[Gross]

So if it is proposed tho run the event with a limit of 1000 (including volunteers and organisers) .

Which probably means an entry limit of way below 1000 once an allowance is made for family members etc who are at the event but not competing.

[MChub]

I think the am/pm idea is worth considering, if at all feasible. Six days with maprun and streamers at control sites sounds a lot more attractive (to me anyway) than 3 days with all the bells and whistles.

[MrD]

This thread is just fuelling the trolls. I would make a decision in private, and let us know the answer.

Ideally, this would be done way before the cancellation date, so we can all make a choice if to stay or leave the event.

[pete.owens]

Most formal tourist places follow very strict covid protocols and are operating well below capacity... even in the Western Isles which is in level 0 (I was there last week).

Indeed, and orienteering events are doing likewise. We are instructed to arrive in O kit. turn up for our start time (arranged to be soicially distant with a controlled arrival rate), run the course, download and go away. No results displays, comentary, catering or traders encouraging us to linger any longer than is strictly nescessary to participate in the orienteering itself - and once you are on the course, orienteering involves less social contact than pretty much any other sport.

If events with 1000 participants are allowed to happen, it is hard to think of a different event of that size that would pose less risk.

[keduro]

I think the am/pm idea is worth considering, if at all feasible.

As Freefall mentioned in an earlier post there are significant additional logistical challenges that would need to be addressed. Also need to consider this could create a significant additional burden on the volunteers running each day. Having been in a central organising team role for the 2017 S6D I can confirm that 7am to 7pm or later was normal each day and that was just with the normal starts window.
I really don't envy the difficult decision that the organising team are now facing. Let's give the team our full support and respect whatever decision is made.

[Snail]

So if it is proposed tho run the event with a limit of 1000 (including volunteers and organisers) .

Which probably means an entry limit of way below 1000 once an allowance is made for family members etc who are at the event but not competing.

Unfortunately I think this is probably right - and not sure that data on non-competing numbers has been collected. Some of them will be parents / drivers, so they can't be just asked not to attend. And those I know of won't want to just wait in their vehicle for 2-4 hours - they would be walking / cycling / child-minding etc. So it might have to be 3 x 2D of nearer 700 competitors, rather than 2 x 3D of 1000. There looks to be 2-300 overseas entries who may yet withdraw if they can't easily satisfy quarantine / isolation requirements, which could help.