IFSC Creates a Climbing During Covid-19 Task Force

Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the IFSC.

As countries and governments all around the world have just started to implement new regulations, allowing people to take a small step towards normality, the International Federation of Sport Climbing decided to create and launch its own task force, called Climbing During Covid-19 Working Group.

Led by IFSC technical delegates Graeme Alderson and Fabrizio Minnino, the Working Group has the goal of producing guidelines and recommendations for the climbing community, in order to work together towards a common goal: the restart of activities – both in climbing gyms and at competitions – in a safe environment.

In the past few weeks, the Working Group consulted with the IFSC Medical Commission and the IFSC Sport Department, also attending a number of meetings with other leading organisation of the climbing community and representatives of many National Federations.

The first outcome of the Working Group is a collection of best practices and case studies, grouped and made available on the dedicated page of the IFSC website.

In the next weeks, the Climbing During Covid-19 Working Group will meet regularly and continue consultations with all parties involved, such as the IFSC Athletes’ Commission, the IFSC Medical Commission, the IFSC Technical Commissions and other experts.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris said: “I want to express the IFSC and my personal gratitude to all those who committed themselves to overcome this challenge. The light is at the end of the tunnel and we are doing everything in our power to be ready when the time to climb again comes. Any additional resource from National Federations and stakeholders is welcome and will contribute to the goal of the Working Group.”