Parents warn U18 Qld Basketball championships should be abandoned due to Covid concerns
Parents fear a junior state championship on the Gold Coast will be a “super spreader” event because thousands of unvaccinated players and fans are allowed entry to the stadium.
Gold Coast
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PARENTS fear the U18 Queensland basketball championships at Carrara will be a “super spreader” for Covid because unvaccinated players and fans are allowed entry to the stadium.
More than 2000 spectators are expected to attend along with 1200 players, coaches and officials from 79 teams throughout the State when the event starts on Wednesday and continues through to Sunday.
Under Queensland public health guidelines, indoor and outdoor stadiums with a capacity for 5000 or more patrons can only host fully vaccinated visitors, players and staff.
But those with a capacity of 4999 or less can host unvaccinated guests and “occupant density does not apply”.
Basketball Queensland in its entry requirements for the State championships warns individuals must not attend if they have flu or cold-like symptoms, tested positive for Covid, are a close contact or awaiting test results.
Parents have contacted the Bulletin fearing for the health of their 15, 16 and 17-year-old children who will play with unvaccinated teenagers, mixing with officials and fans potentially carrying the virus.
“They are letting unvaccinated players and supporters go into the basketball stadium at Carrara with not a care in the world if they have Covid or not,” a parent said.
“These teams and parents come from all over Queensland. This will be a super spreader, each little town far and wide will be definitely touched by Covid. It is irresponsible of Basketball Queensland to continue with this championship. Young athletes are going to get sick.”
A senior basketball coach agreed with parents, questioning how the event can be staged when the State Government is delaying the return to school for students and council putting restrictions on access to other public venues for health safety reasons.
“The venue is the Gold Coast City Council’s. There’s a lot of people coming from all over Queensland. What’s going on here when you have this going on yet you have to book to get into the (council’s) local studies library and you’re the only person there,” the coach said.
Sporting insiders suggest the event is critical in a commercial sense for Queensland basketball.
“It’s just the way basketball is run. It is driven by the dollar. It is probably the most expensive team sport. The only way you can make income is through competitions,” the coach said.
“This event is a big one. It’s run over consecutive days. The bigger picture is club sport was once a kitchen table administration. Now it’s run on a commercial basis.”
Those attending the Carrara event will need to wear a mask where it was not possible to maintain 1.5m social distancing. But mask exemptions will be allowed.
Organisers say they will follow all directions from Queensland Health if a confirmed Covid case occurs.
Gold Coast Basketball general manager Joel McInnes has acknowledged the concerns of parents but confirmed the council-run venue was following the rules from Queensland Recreation and Health.
“Obviously we are in constant contact to see if any update daily, any change to the restrictions. As it stands the event is moving forward,” he said.
But parents have continued to question the government’s stand on allowing both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents access to community sporting events.
“A lot of parents are saying its negligent for (Premier) Annastacia Palaszczuk to let the U18 State championships to go ahead,” a parent said.
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