Considering the safety and health of the Athletes as well as all those involved in the organization (i.e., judges, volunteers, medical and support personnel, employees, crew members and supporters), the Organizing Committee, having carefully studied the Health and Safety protocols of NPHO (National Public Health Organization) designed the present Protocol against Covid-19.
This Protocol includes all the rules of conduct, health protection measures and procedures that are to be followed during the events. It will be reviewed at regular intervals, based on the epidemiological data and the recommendations of the Health Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports.
The standards for the Health and Safety Protocols that will apply are the following:
To participate, the Athletes must have the following:
- Vaccination Certificate or
- Certificate of Recovery (not older than 6 months from the date of the first positive test), or
- PCR test of 72 hours
- Masks: Mandatory in all areas. Athletes are excluded only during exercise or running (they must wear a mask before the Start and, again, after the Finish). Recommended use of double masks in means of transportation during the event.
- Use of disposable gloves: When handling clothing, providing medical assistance and catering. Recommended frequent hand disinfection. Disinfectants at all Check Points (C/Ps).
Social Distancing guidelines:
- Up to 50 people per starting block: Grouped starts with time intervals of at least 5 minutes in between of each block. In each block, recommended distances between participants of 2 meters in each direction.
At the Start and Finish, there will be measures to avoid overcrowding with continuous flow of Athletes and Participants. Recommendation to avoid physical contact (hugs and handshakes etc.).
- Online registration: done in advance electronically – no secretariat meetings.
- Awards Ceremonies: Athletes will receive their medals themselves from a specially designed table-stand, without contact and without crowding.
- Spectators: There will be spectators during the Race but due to the long distances of the Race the dispersion of the Athletes and consequently the Spectators will be larger.
All Spectators and Accompanying Persons present at the Finish area will move exclusively around and outside the railings that will be placed to the right and left of the Finish area. With continuous announcements through the loudspeakers, but also with the help of the volunteers and the organizing staff, the Spectators will maintain social distancing and comply with the rules of the Race.
The details of the Health and Safety Protocols are mentioned in detail below.
GENERAL RULES OF PARTICIPATION
- The race will take place on 24-25-September 2021 and will last 36 hours. According to the Race Program and in relation to the limited number of participating Athletes, overcrowding will be avoided and all other sanitary measures shall be observed.
The start will take place on Aeropagitou Street at the height of Herodes Atticus Theater.
The finish of the 245km race will take place in front of the statue of Leonidas in Sparta.
Due to the long distance of the Race, the dispersion of the Athletes is a large and thus, that satisfies the Official Health instructions.
- Participation will be permitted only for Athletes that will provide:
- Vaccination Certificate or
- Certificate of Recovery or
- PCR of 72hrs before the Race.
Also, the participating athletes, in addition to the above, are required to provide the standard medical certificate required by the event.
- The staff / volunteers / judges / associates will wear a protective mask and extra disposable gloves when collecting-delivering items to and from the Athletes. Disinfectants will be placed where possible and necessary at the Check Points.
- Until the moment of the Race Start (during arrival at the venue), the Athletes must wear a protective mask.
Members of the Organizing Committee will arrange the Athletes at the Start and manage their arrival time and the respective start time, distances etc.
BEFORE THE RACE
A. TRANSPORTATION
Participants / volunteers / employees / judges / associates who will board the event buses must wear a mask and have already delivered to the race secretariat before the Start:
- Vaccination Certificate or
- Certificate of Recovery (not older than 6 months from the date of the first positive test), or
- PCR test of 72 hours
B. REGISTRATION – SECRETARIAT
The Athletes will be informed through the program of the Race that will be published on the Website for the receipt of their participation material from the secretariat that will operate extensively in the days and hours of its operation (compared to previous events). Its operation will be 2 days before the start of the race as follows:
– Glyfada, Athens Oasis Hotel, Wednesday 22/09/21 at 11.00 – 17.00
– Glyfada, Athens Oasis Hotel, Thursday 23/09/21 at 11.00 – 17.00
The Secretariat will operate in an area where those in charge will bring the appropriate sanitary equipment (masks, gloves, disinfectants, etc.). To further avoid possible overcrowding, floor markings will be placed to separate the area of waiting Athletes. The floor markings will be placed at a distance of 2 meters from each other and all persons present will be wearing protective masks.
The Athletes will receive their number and Participation materials for the Race ONLY after they have delivered:
- Vaccination Certificate or
- Certificate of Recovery (not older than 6 months from the date of the first positive test), or
- PCR test of 72 hours
The standard Medical Certificate will have been sent in advance electronically to the International SPARTATHLON Association email.
At the secretariat there will be staff members who will monitor the flow of Athletes and will temporarily suspend the entrance in case the number of visitors exceeds the allowed one.
Temperature measurements will be performed with an electronic forehead thermometer for possible detection of COVID-19 cases.
Medical Staff from the NPHO have been requested to be present at the Registration for further Controls.
Runners will be notified in advance by email or by a post on our website about the process they will have to follow.
In all areas of the Secretariat and Registration there will be signs that will be reminding of the sanitary guidelines that must be complied with as well as of social distancing (2 meters).
In addition, printed material will be distributed with the rules of operation of the Registration/Secretariat and the rules that runners must follow on the day of the Race.
The International SPARTATHLON Association has the obligation to keep in its file the certificates of the diagnostic laboratories for the PCR tests for COVID-19 that have been performed on the athletes, for at least four (4) months, as they may be requested to be presented in the context of sampling tests by the NPHO or other Governmental entity.
B1. Technical Update
All instructions and details of the race are available on the website www.spartathlon.gr
To avoid overcrowding of Athletes indoors, special instructions and details for this year’s Race will be posted on our website.
Β2. Drop Bags
Athletes have the ability to deposit the things they wish to use at specific Check Stations. This process will take place in open air, before the Race and the Athletes will place them by themselves in special nylon bags.
Volunteers will control the process and the drop bags will be transported to the respective Check Points under the responsibility of the organization and delivery will be made by our trained staff in compliance with all protection measures.
C. DAY OF THE RACE
C1. Wave Start system
The starting point is located in Athens on Aeropagitou Street at the height of the Theater of Herodes Atticus.
The Athletes will be appointed to blocks defined by the Organizing Committee. Each of the blocks will include a maximum of 50 people, in order to minimize overcrowding during the race. Therefore, in each block social distancing of 2m in each direction will be observed for each Athlete. Each block will start at an interval of at least 5 minutes.
At the Start and Finish, there will be measures to avoid overcrowding with continuous flow of Athletes and Participants. Recommendation to avoid physical contact (hugs and handshakes etc.).
All participating Athletes will wear a protective mask until they start, ie until they take a position on the special fixed position indications. After the Start, there will be a sufficient number of waste bins where masks will be discarded at appropriate points.
C2. During the Race
During the Race the Athletes will be encouraged to keep as long distances as possible and to comply with the following:
- Athletes running side by side is safe only when there is social distance of 2 meters between them.
- Athletes running in a triangle formation (one front and the other rear right or left) is safe only when there is social distance of 2 meters between them.
- Groups of Athletes should avoid running at a distance less than 2 meters among themselves.
- Throughout the duration of the Race, and for the proper operation and safety of the Athletes, vehicles of the Organization will intervene where and when required (crowded Athletes along the way, at Check Points, etc.)
The Wave Start system, as described, will prevent overcrowding during the Race. Athletes should run wearing their T-shirt with their BIB number, which in no case may be removed before, during or after the Finish, until they receive the bag with their clothes.
C3. First Aid – Abandonment of Athletes
There will be of a medical team with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and rescue teams with adequate medical and health equipment, ready to intervene if and when needed.
The Athletes that have abandoned the Race will be at the Check Points. and will be picked up by their Crew Members or the Organization’s bus that will take them to the appropriate hotel. The athlete is obliged to deliver their Race Number (BIB) and the Timer Chip to Responsible Personnel.
The Responsible Personnel from the Race’s Organization that will transport them, will wear gloves and masks and the Athlete in question will also be provided with the corresponding medical equipment if required.
C4. Check Points
The Ρace consists of 74 Check Points that are up to code with the new Health and Safety Protocols. ALL volunteers who will staff these Check Points, will bring the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (gloves, masks etc.) and at all Check Points there will be disinfectant liquids and their use will be strongly encouraged.
The liquids that will be given to the Athletes (such as water, isotonic, soft drinks, etc.) will be in individual packages. The solid food supply that the Athletes will receive at the Check Points will be in small individual packages, and the fruits will be in special boxes, that the Athletes will take at their own risk.
D. RACE SUPPORT – HUMAN RESOURCES
All staff and Volunteers that will be employed on the day of the Race will be fully trained and educated regarding the procedures and regulations of the event as well as the content of this Health and Safety Protocol.
Everyone will wear disposable masks throughout their time at the event. Masks will be changed regularly, according to the instructions of NPHO. Upon receipt and delivery of the Athletes’ clothing, the staff will bring additional masks and disposable gloves.
Additionally, often disinfections will be encouraged. Garbage bins for disposing of masks and gloves will be available at all locations.
There will be strict entry control in the support areas of the event on the day of the Race and always with the display of the relevant credentials. The number of people who can present in these support areas will be proportional to the square meters of each space, and provided that the distance is 1.5 meters. There will be a special isolated area will be provided in case of a Covid-19 suspected case (one or more) either among the participants or between the volunteers / employees / associates of the event.
For the operation of the medical staff’s office, the instructions of NPHO will be followed and the office will be adequately equipped.
D1. Athletes’ Support / Crew Members
The Supporters / Crew Members of the Athletes of the Race will adapt to the special conditions, avoiding any overcrowding. In the interactions with the locals and in the entrances to the shops of the villages / cities they must strictly obey the sanitary measures. When travelling in their vehicles, Supporters / Crew Members must follow the rules of escorting Athletes. The Check Points, Supporters / Crew Members will be at least 20 meters away from the supply stands and in no case will they approach any Athlete other than the one they support. All persons, including Supporters / Crew Members, should keep the appropriate distances between each other, while the use of a mask will be mandatory both indoors and outdoors.
E. FINISH LINE
The finish line is located in Sparta in front of the statue of King Leonidas.
At the Finish, the Athletes will receive their medal themselves, with full compliance to the rules of social distancing and restriction of physical contact, and only in the presence of the absolutely necessary staff members of the Association.
After the Finish, the Athletes will receive the special bag with the clothes they delivered upon arrival from the predetermined area, after disinfecting their hands with a disinfectant solution that will be provided to them.
Athletes will then leave at a reasonable time, with those using the bus leaving at the pre-appointed time.
The time span between the Athletes’ finishes is quite large. Thus, the appropriate measures will be obeyed everywhere. After the Finish, the Athletes will be transported by the Organization’s buses or in the vehicles of their Supporters / Crew Members, to the reception of their respective hotels, where they will be appointed to their rooms after following again all the necessary sanitary measures.
Regarding the returning Athletes to the Starting Point / Athens and for those that use the Organization’s buses will obey all sanitary measures (number of passengers, masks, disinfectants, etc.).
Note: The Start Line, as well as the Finish Line have sufficient space so that there is the possibility of implementing additional safety instruction indicated by NPHO.
All staff will bring the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (gloves, masks etc.) as well as disinfectants.
Spectators: There will be spectators during the Race but due to the long distances of the Race the dispersion of the Athletes, and consequently, the Spectators will be larger. All Spectators and Accompanying Persons present at the Finish area will move exclusively around and outside the railings that will be placed to the right and left of the Finish area. With continuous announcements through the loudspeakers, but also with the help of the volunteers and the organizing staff, the Spectators will maintain social distancing and comply with the rules of the Race.
F. INFORMING THE PARTICIPANTS
All registered athletes will be fully informed about all the events of the race, the regulations and the procedures that will be followed.
For the information of the athletes will be used:
- Email Communication at regular intervals or announcements on spartathlon.gr which will become more frequent as we approach the day of the race.
- Printed Material that will be given to the Participants upon receipt of their BIB number and material of participation in the event by the Secretariat. The Printed Material will include all the instructions and recommendations of NPHO for the prevention and treatment of possible Covid-19 case.
- Special Informational signs for the Athletes on the day of the Race at various points of the Race routes and areas.
- Continuous Audio Announcements on the day of the Race which will be a constant reminder for the Athletes of the instructions, recommendations and regulations from the Organizing Committee and the NPHO and the Health Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports.
This Health and Safety Protocol may be updated – revised in accordance with any changes to the Health Protocol of NPHO and Health Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports.
G. COMMUNICATION REPRESENTATIVES
INTERNATIONAL SPARTATHLON ASSOCIATION
Kodrou 7 Athens PC 10558
Tel. +30 210 3223642
Email: info@spartathlon.gr
Website: www.spartathlon.gr
THE PRESIDENT THE GENERAL SECRETARY
Evangelos Polymeris Panagiotis Bonelis
HEALTHCARE TEAM MANAGER
Ekaterini Skenderi
