VA in talks with minister: sport helps maintain physical resistance

The longer sports facilities can remain open, the better it is for the physical resistance of the population. This was the core message of the Vechtsportautoriteit (Dutch Martial Arts Authority) and other representatives of sports providers in a meeting with the Minister for Sport (minister van Sport) on 26 October about the corona measures.

As a member of the Platform Ondernemende Sportaanbieders (POS, the platform for commercial sports providers), the VA was invited to a virtual meeting with the new Minister for Sport, Tamara van Ark. The POS represents sports that are often organised slightly differently: climbing halls, riding schools, golf courses and martial arts gyms, for example.

The government is considering tightening the corona measures. The aim is to relieve the pressure on healthcare. Hospitals are under great strain because of the new influx of corona patients. The measures are based on reducing (social) movement. The intention is for people to travel to and from locations less often, and to come into contact with each other less. Whether many or few people actually become infected at those locations is not the primary consideration. That is why closing museums, libraries and gyms is also on the table as an option.

The representatives of the sports providers, including the VA, understand the necessity and respect the choices made by the government. They do stress, however, that it is very sensible to keep sports facilities open for as long as possible. Sport is an outlet that helps people stay mentally healthy. But through sport, people can also maintain their physical resistance. If that resistance declines, this can likewise lead to additional pressure on healthcare.

Regardless of the decisions taken by politicians this week, the VA will continue to work towards a healthy martial arts sector emerging from the corona crisis.