Parkrun’s most powerful boss has asked the Welsh government for permission to host the New Year’s Day celebration. He insists that there have not been any cases of virus transmission during their 50,000-strong events.
Parkrun is an international community run club that meets weekly. It announced via its website that events had been cancelled in Wales due to strict new guidelines. These regulations prohibit more than 50 individuals from gathering outdoors.
Tom Williams, chief operating officer for Parkrun Global, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning his organisation had written a joint letter to the Welsh Government, with Welsh Athletics, asking for the rules to be reviewed.
He insisted that there has never been a single reported case of virus transmission at any of Parkrun’s 50,000 events, involving one million people, adding: ‘Where physical activity is restricted without evidence, we ask for that evidence to be presented, and hopefully the decision can be changed.’
Williams explained that “for many people especially for those in greatest need of exercise, if they do not start to develop a positive attitude in January, then it is likely they will be affected throughout the entire year.”
“The longer we can keep Parkrun shut down in Wales, the bigger the impacts will be both in the short-term and in the long-term.”
Parkrun is an international community running club that meets weekly. It announced via its website that events had been cancelled in Wales due to strict new guidelines. These regulations prohibit more than 50 individuals from engaging in outdoor activities. Parkrun Cardiff Christmas Day
Parkrun Global chief operating officer Tom Williams said Parkrun saw 125,000 people attend events around 15 countries this Christmas Day. Parkrun works with Track and Trace authorities in all regions they work.
Mr Williams added: ‘Since Parkrun events have come back around the world under our framework, we’ve delivered over 50,000 different events where one million people have taken part over five million times.
“There have not been any cases of virus transmission during a Parkrun event.”
“So they’re really, really safe. There’s lots mitigations in place. As a charity responsible for public health, wellbeing and increasing activity, we need to champion that.
He made these comments after Welsh officials were criticized by the Health Secretary for banning outdoor exercises that ‘helped many’, despite Covid restrictions.
Sajid Javid tweeted in response to the announcement, saying that Parkrun had helped many improve their health throughout the UK. This restriction on outdoor exercise is neither justified nor proportionate, I don’t think.
Parkrun stated that the Welsh Government had announced a 50 person limit starting 26 December.
Sajid Javid criticized Welsh leaders for banning Parkrun outside exercise events, which “helped so many” amidst Covid restrictions.
Sajid Javid running near Downing Street, October. His tweet earlier stated that Parkrun had helped so many improve their health in the UK. I can’t see how restricting outdoor exercise in this way is justified or proportionate’
Although this doesn’t apply to children and does not affect junior parkrun, it means that all 5k events will be suspended starting January 1.
“We do know that there are some Welsh parkrun events with less than 50 attendees, however they would need a relatively small inflow (at what is often a very busy season of year) to reach the limit.
Furious Tory MPs, and bosses of hospitality in Scotland and Wales demanded that Nicola Sturgeon & Mark Drakeford release figures to justify their Covid crackdowns.
Parkrun was not contacted by Williams, however Mr Williams believed that Welsh Athletics had been in discussions with the Welsh government and were seeking a solution.
He said that on Christmas Day this year Parkrun had 125,000 people attending events across roughly 15 countries, and the organisation works with Track and Trace authorities wherever they operate.