Some 700 tennis coaches can return to work on Monday after the government relaxed Covid-19 restrictions for recreational facilities, but many are still without a livelihood and hoping for stronger policies to protect the sports industry from future shutdowns. Certain outdoor facilities, including private clubs, were able to open on Friday and all tennis courts managed by the Leisure and Culture Services Department can resume operations on Monday, with a limit of four people on a court. According to Hong Kong Tennis Association President Philip Mok Kwan-yat, around 700 tennis coaches can go back to earning a living, but for the likes of fencing coach Wong Tsan and others involved in indoor sports, the wait goes on. “Our Association welcomes this decision and is thankful that the government has acknowledged the importance of sports to the general public as well as industry stakeholders such as coaches,” said the HKTA in a Facebook post. “We urge everyone not to let their guards down in the battle against the epidemic and strictly observe the regulations set by the government. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3198155673603545&id=5… “We will continue to lobby the government to refine its policies such that if there are further outbreaks of positive cases, the decision to maintain the operation of each activity can be evaluated based on its own safety merit. “Up to now, tennis facilities across Hong Kong have been closed for a total of 18 weeks and future uncertainty looms.” Cough up Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s sports coaches need cash to survive Covid-19 more than bailed-out big business Sports facilities across Hong Kong shut down earlier this year as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world but reopened after the number of new cases plunged to single digit figures, allowing coaches in many sports to return to work. However, a third wave of high infection rates starting in July forced the government to close down sports facilities again. Many coaches are struggling to recover and are unable to make ends meet, despite an initial subsidy of HK$7,500 derived from the government’s anti-epidemic fund. Former Davis Cup tennis player Andy Brothers is part of a group leading a drive to ask the government to better protect the sports industry in case of future lock downs, questioning why some “non-essential” business are allowed to stay open while sports facilities are closed. Wong, a former Hong Kong fencer who runs his own academy, said he would support such a campaign, having twice shut down his training centre – his main source of income. “I hope in the coming weeks, they will allow some indoor sports to reopen,” Wong said. “Even under a two-person limit. For the coaches it is very important. For the past one month they haven’t been doing anything, it is a very bad situation for everyone. “Not only for the coaches but also for the sport and for the kids. I have many parents coming to me saying their kids only sit at home playing and eating without any physical exercise. “I don’t know how Hong Kong can open restaurants but does not allow training centres to open. Eating is easier than playing sport.” https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3182521088500337&id=5… Brothers said while tennis coaches can go back to work, sports leaders in Hong Kong should come together to protect those who make a living from the industry. “We need to ensure that the government does not order a blanket shutdown of all sports again,” Brothers said. “Although tennis, golf, athletics, and several other outdoor sports are now open, staple Hong Kong outdoor sports such as football, basketball, swimming, sailing and indoor sports such as badminton, table tennis, snooker, tenpin bowling and many more continue to be closed, even though all could be played or undertaken with coaching safely following the current two-person guidelines. “Fitness centres and yoga studios also remain closed, despite providing mountains of data to the government on how they can operate safely. Covid-19 hits Hong Kong sports: athletes slow down, events are cancelled, coaches worry over loss of income “So there is still much work to be done now and in the future to ensure equitable treatment for the industry. Hong Kong’s medical facilities are much better prepared now than back in March and April, so we need to be able to balance containing the virus without destroying industries, livelihoods and people’s quality of life.”