How NSW gyms will enforce proof of Covid vaccination when they reopen

Gyms will soon reopen but are conflicted about banning unvaccinated residents from working out. Have your say.

A war is brewing in the fitness community with some gyms fighting against rules banning unvaccinated customers, while others vowing not to let anti-vaxxers in even after December 1.

According to the state government road map, gyms will be able to open to vaccinated customers only from October 11 and all staff must be vaccinated.

Some gym owners are telling their members they will not discriminate against the unvaccinated and will either not check vaccine status at the door, or remain closed until everyone can attend.

Cycology Club owner David Finnimore and personal trainer Angelique Klimis. Picture: Tim Hunter

Hardcore Gym in Carlton announced on its Facebook page that it would stay closed because this mandate goes against its values.

“We value people before profit,” the gym said.

Another gym in Shellharbour told The Sunday Telegraph it would not be policing vaccine passports.

Owner of Penrith’s Fit 4 All gym Milton Karavas said he was not anti-vax and his whole family had been jabbed but his clients should be able to choose for themselves if they get the vaccine.

Mr Karavas said he believed in the vaccine but was frustrated by the division in the community.

“We aren’t anti-vaxxers at all, it’s not about that. It’s about the vast amount of members that have contacted us saying: ‘I’m not going to be vaccinated, am I going to be welcome at your facility’?” he said.

“The vaccinated have contacted us saying: ‘We won’t attend your facility if you have unvaccinated staff or members’.

“If we are moving on with 30 per cent of the population unvaccinated, we can’t afford to lose 30 per cent of our membership.”

Mr Karavas said turning away unvaccinated members would put a financial strain on his business and he was also concerned about the risk of legal action against him for discrimination.

At this stage Fit 4 All will stay closed until December.

On the other side of the debate is Surry Hills cycling club Cycology Club.

Founder David Finnimore was one of the first gyms to announce he would only welcome vaccinated members, even before the government mandate.

Now Mr Finnimore has decided even after the December reopening for everyone, he will still require customers to be vaccinated.

“When we looked at what reality was going to be like going forward and we benchmarked that against other jurisdictions like Israel, New York or Los Angeles … we really landed at the only pathway out of this is to operate at a vaccinated-only policy,” he said.

“People have been in lockdown for a really long time and there’s a lot of anxiety over that period, it’s really about taking a view of what will make people feel comfortable and safe to come back and train.”

Mr Finnimore said his decision was popular with clients and that only one of his current members is unvaccinated and that was for a medical exemption.

The fear of becoming an exposure site and having to shut down every few weeks was also a deciding factor in making the club vaccinated-only.

There are concerns in the industry that the vaccine mandate will create two tiers of gyms — those for the vaccinated and those for the non-vaccinated.

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