The General Council of Physical and Sports Education claims the provision of physical education, activity and sport services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We echo this news published by I practice sport, where they collect the claim of the General Council of Physical and Sports Education (COLEF) on service limitations physical education, activity and sport during the covid-19 pandemic

The General Council of Physical and Sports Education includes more than 16.000 sports physical educators, has expressed its enormous concern about the limitation of the provision of physical education, activity and sport services during the development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restrictions in the sector not only affect the economy, as indicated by the estimates, which have foreseen for this 2020 a 38,5% decrease in revenue

This represents 4.616 million euros (Jiménez Gutiérrez et al., 2020) or that unemployment already in September registered 26,9% more than the same month of the previous year (according to the State Public Employment Service, SEPE).

You can check here the full manifest 

Recognized fundamental right

From COLEF they insist that the practice of physical exercise constitutes a fundamental right recognized within the Spanish Constitution, the sport white paper of the European Commission and UNESCO. Furthermore, inactivity is a serious public health problem, causing at least 35 chronic diseases.

Maintaining an active routine improves prognosis of 26 diseases, in addition to avoiding premature mortality by up to 15%, "which is equivalent conservatively to 3,9 million deaths per year" according to the study by Strain et al. of 2020.

Before the pandemic, only 46,2% of the population had a weekly habit of physical-sports practice and 8,39% did so under the umbrella of the federative structures. However, during the confinement the situation worsened.

Worsening of the situation due to the pandemic

The Spanish adult population, especially young people, students and very active men, decreased daily physical activity and sedentary time increased.

In the child and adolescent population, they reduced their exercise time to less than half and almost doubled their use of screens, they point out.

In addition, "once it was possible to go outside to start physical-sports practice or resume what was previously done, the medical staff observed an increase in injuries and events derived from a lack of adequate progression and adaptation," as he observes. the Roures study, 2020.

Exercising reduces the risk of infection

Studies show that reduces the risk of infectious disease by up to 31% with the practice of sport, as well as it is pointed out that the maximum exercise capacity "is associated independently and inversely with the probability of hospitalization due to COVID-19".

In addition, the data “further” support the important relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes, notes Brawner et al., 2020.

As well can significantly increase the immune response to vaccination (Edwards and Booy, 2013; Pascoe, Fiatarone Singh and Edwards, 2014).

Safe with the pros

Experience shows that infections during sports activities account for 0,34% of the total and, although COLEF has requested a breakdown for political decision-making, it is indicated in their manifesto that the request has not yet been resolved.

They point out that, depending on the sport, its rules or if it is under supervision or not, it implies a different risk.

"Unsupervised and self-managed physical-sports practice involves greater risks and does not have the same effectiveness as that under the supervision of qualified personnel..

Even at alert level 3, contemplated by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System in the document published on October 22, it is indicated that sports facilities and centers could be opened with a capacity of one third, as long as it could be maintained safety distance and adequate ventilation.

Further information: https://www.consejo-colef.es/