Some Trinity Sport scholars who fall under Sport Ireland’s definition of elite athletes will be allowed access to the high-performance gym for the duration of the level-five restrictions.
Trinity Sport was unable to disclose neither which Trinity Sport Scholars nor which teams would qualify as elite and therefore be granted access. The Trinity Sport Scholars are set to be announced next week.
During level three, the government had granted several Trinity sports teams that compete at high levels in their sport an exemption to restrictions, allowing them to continue with their scheduled fixtures without spectators. However, these exceptions were revoked last week due to the increasing levels of coronavirus cases.
All Trinity Sport facilities are temporarily closed since midnight on Wednesday. The facilities which have closed are the Trinity Sport Centre, Santry Sports Grounds, Iveagh Sports Grounds, T-Tech Boxing, Islandbridge Boathouse and the Trinity Hall sports facilities.
Along with the cancellation of fixtures, all group sporting activities, including training for all clubs, have been cancelled under level-five restrictions.
Under level-three restrictions, students had previously been able to exercise and train individually in all of Trinity Sports facilities. Groups of up to 15 people had been able to exercise, train and partake in recreational activities outdoors provided that there was no physical contact.
This marks the first closure of the Sports Centre since it reopened on the 12th of August following the easing of restrictions.
In an attempt to combat the effects of this closure, Trinity Sport are launching their new platform Trinity Sport+ where members will be able to access online live fitness classes.
Trinity Sport will also be freezing all monthly subscriptions for non-student members. However, students will not be refunded the €122 sport charge paid upon registering for College. Trinity Sport explained that refunds will not be given as this payment is classified a “development charge” and is not considered a membership fee.
The Sports Centre was Trinity’s main casualty in the government’s new level-five restrictions announced yesterday, with the rest of College remaining largely unaffected.
As had previously been the case, all learning that can take place online will do so, while classes that must take place in person – including lab and practical classes, clinical skills classes and creative practice – will continue to take place face to face.
Clinical and professional placements will also remain in person, as well as lab-based capstone projects.
The library will also remain open as it has been, although with some reductions.
Students in College accommodation will not be asked to return home, and requests to leave College accommodation will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
