Thursday, December 23, 2021
Berlin goes a separate way
Ghost games? Not in the capital!
We are in the age of the Omikron variant and all of Germany is being prescribed ghost games … All of Germany? No! A village called Berlin populated by indomitable capitals takes a different route. Fans are allowed both outdoors and in the hall, and Hamburg is following suit.
Professional sport in Germany is facing widespread ghost games – but Berlin is taking a different route. The Senate decided against a complete exclusion of spectators and allows outdoor events with up to 3000 people. Events with up to 2000 people are still permitted in closed rooms. The previous upper limit of 5000 has been reduced. The term of the regulation was extended to January 22, 2022.
The prerequisite is the existence of a corresponding general hygiene concept. In principle, the events also take place according to the 2G-Plus rule, so only those who have been vaccinated or recovered who can also show a current negative Corona test are admitted. It is also compulsory to wear an FFP2 mask. At least mechanical ventilation is required in closed rooms.
“Better than the complete rejection”
“We have decided to proceed in a measured manner, weighing up the risks and protective measures,” said Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey. It is about maintaining activities in culture, sport or business as far as possible, albeit under restricted conditions. “We have come to the conclusion that this is still better than the complete cancellation.”
Later in the afternoon, Hamburg followed suit and announced that sporting events with fewer than 5000 participants could continue to take place in the open air and under 2G conditions. This also applies to football stadiums. Indoor events with up to 2500 participants are therefore possible under 2G rules, i.e. only for vaccinated and convalescent people.
The federal and state governments agreed on Tuesday, out of concern about the highly contagious Corona variant Omikron, to completely exclude spectators at major national sports events from December 28th. “National major events are no longer allowed to take place with an audience, this applies in particular to football matches,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The decision is massively affecting professional sport. Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke of Borussia Dortmund had already warned politicians against a “symbolic policy” and showed no understanding for the exclusion of spectators: As an open-air event with a “proven, coherent concept”, professional football had proven to deal responsibly with the situation. Indoor sports, which are even more dependent on viewer income than football, with its billion-dollar TV contract, are hit harder by the measure.