This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Exempt outdoor tennis from closure due to COVID-19

Support the LTA in conducting COVID safe outdoor tennis.

Tennis facilities operate nationally and mostly on a volunteer basis help people keep physically and mentally fit.

More details

Work with the LTA to agree how tennis can operate safely during lockdown - build upon the previous successful approach and take action this week.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

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Government responded

This response was given on 18 January 2021

Sport is crucial for our mental and physical health. That’s why we have continued to make sure that people can exercise. Given the seriousness of the current situation tennis courts have had to close.

The importance of sport and physical activity, including tennis, for the nation’s physical and mental health has never been more apparent. They are a powerful defence against the covid-19 pandemic, and we will need to raise levels of fitness among the population as we prepare to return to our normal lives, now the vaccination programme has begun.

No government would want to be in a position of needing to close sports facilities, including tennis courts. The benefits of tennis are wide ranging for example it can bring people together, improve agility, flexibility and balance and help relieve stress. Tennis courts were one of the first sports facilities to be reopened following the initial lockdown and they were also able to stay open in the local tiered restrictions, including tier 4. However, the current spread of the virus risks the healthcare system becoming overwhelmed. This is something we cannot allow to happen and is why the current national lockdown was introduced.

The current restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. All decisions made by the Government relating to the pandemic and sport have been based on advice and guidance from health and scientific experts.

During the period of these restrictions you can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place which include:
● parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
● public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
● the grounds of a heritage site
● Playgrounds

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

DCMS Committee to hear from sports facility representatives on surviving the pandemic

On Tuesday 12 December, a group of MPs called the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear from the gym industry on making sure our sports facilities, including pools and leisure centres, can survive the pandemic.

Watch the session from 10 am on Tuesday 12 January on Parliament’s streaming site: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c4f1d7a0-2370-412b-8d88-a297b6abf06a

This 'evidence session' is part of the Committee's inquiry into Sport in our communities. The Committee will hear from two panels:

Panel 1 (10 am to 11 am)
Rich Emerson, CEO, The Climbing Academy, and Chair of the Association of British Climbing Walls.
Rebecca Passmore, UK Managing Director, PureGym

Panel 2 (11 to 12 pm)
Marg Mayne, CEO, Mytime Active, and Treasurer of Community Leisure UK
Huw Edwards, CEO, ukactive

The session is part of a longer inquiry looking into Sport in our communities. You can find out more here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/647/sport-in-our-communities/

You can get involved with the inquiry by recording your own video message or short film to answer the question: What does community sport mean to me?

You must follow current COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions when filming your video- do not put yourself and others at risk. You can use animation, film your video indoors and you don’t need to film outside. We want to hear about why community sport is important to you and why it matters to you.

Find out more here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/647/sport-in-our-communities/news/123537/what-does-community-sport-mean-to-you-contribute-to-our-inquiry/

Further information

Find out how to get involved in the work of the UK Parliament: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/

Find out about the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport

Follow the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Twitter:
@CommonsDCMS and take part in this discussion with #MyCommunitySport

Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c