14th April 2020: Your Weekly Briefing

Cover Credit: Team GB

This is your JRN Weekly briefing covering the developments of the last week in three key areas. If you have a story to share, contact our news desk at juniorrowingnews@gmail.com

Covid-19 Update:

The President of the United States calls the shots”

Mr Trump at a US Government Press Conference this week

This weeks message from the government was clearer than ever: Stay home.

The increase in the severity of orders from Whitehall comes after the PM – who had already tested positive for the virus – was moved to Intensive Care at St. Thomas’ Hospital London after his symptoms became more severe. He has since moved out of ICU and is continuing to recover with his fiancée and Special Government Adviser Carrie Symonds at his Chequers country retreat.

Mr Johnson said this week that he “owed his life” to the NHS staff who cared for him whilst he was in Hospital, remarks of thanks echoed by his family and government colleagues.

Although the Prime Minister is out of Number 10 he continues to lead the government, with the help of Dominic Raab Foreign Secretary, who has deputised “where necessary” for the PM.

He emphasised the need to stay at home and follow isolation protocols over the Easter Weekend, as temperatures reached the mid-20s, providing an enticing opportunity for Barbecues and gatherings.

The warnings come as the UK and global death tolls passed 10,000 and 100,000 respectively, with the UK’s highest daily figures exceeding those of Italy and Spain.

Tabloid newspapers have faced heavy criticism this week as they urged the government to provide answers on the proposed “exit strategy” from quarantine, whilst across the pond, US papers focussed on the New York pandemic and fears of a global recession following Covid-19.

The President of the United States has rumoured the 1st of May as a potential date for the lifting of lockdown restrictions across the whole of the nation, contradicting advice from both legal and medical experts.

The Contiguous United States has become the global epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak, with over 25,00 deaths confirmed. When asked whether the President has the power to override the orders of State governors Mr Trump responded, “When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total… That being said, we’re going to work with the States”.

Health is making headlines for other reasons this week, as Unicef announced that some 117 million children may not receive their MMR vaccinations on time due to Covid-19. A spokesperson for Unicef said, “Disruptions to routine vaccine services will increase the risk of children contracting deadly diseases, compound the current pressures on the national health services and risks a second pandemic of infectious diseases.”

The authorities both in the UK and abroad were already struggling with climbing numbers of Measles and other childhood diseases as a second wave of vaccination hesitancy was stirred, risking the lives of millions.

Back in Westminster, the government is to review lockdown measures this week, but with the number of deaths still rising rapidly within the UK, most believe this quarantine will continue at the current level of severity for many weeks yet.

British Rowing:

“It is with great regret that the General Management Committee (GMC) of the Home International Regatta has decided that HIR 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”

It seems that the rowing season is now officially dead in the water. All major competitions this side of the previous dates for the 2020 Olympics have been cancelled, whilst almost all local regattas have been called off until September.

With no official update on Coronavirus guidance from the British Rowing, practical advice has instead been offered on how to run a club from home and remain healthy throughout what looks to be an extended offseason.

Ideas include using online video conferencing platforms such as HouseParty and Zoom to train together, or using Facebook to host a quiz night. Shanklin Sandown RC have been using their members to run a local support network for the vulnerable, whilst Maidenhead have launched a ‘Members and Parents’ support network to help those who need some TLC at what is one of the strangest and most difficult times in living memory.

The national team continues to train from home, as the Tokyo Games countdown has been updated to show the 460 or so days left until Tokyo 2020.

National Athletes have taken it upon themselves to support all levels of rowing, with many utilising their social media pages to engage with the wider community. Seasoned media gurus such as Vicky Thornley and Cam Buchan lead the charge in an effort to preserve the fragile rowing ecosystem that has been built in this country.

British Rowing have also promoted the inaugural Isolation Games which aims to bring people of all sports together to compete in a social, socially distanced circuit championship. The games will run from the 20th April to the 3rd of May, with entries closing on the 21st April.

In other BR news, the “Meet the Athlete” series begun with Hattie Taylor discussing her experiences as a national athlete and her aims for Tokyo 2020. Elsewhere, the GoRow Indoor newsletter continues to provide tips on how to make the most of isolation from the Erg, whilst the executive Committee reaffirmed their commitment to providing financial support to clubs. The dedicated page can be found here.

International Rowing:

“More than hopes are certainties, once out of this tunnel we will start over again and Sabaudia will return more beautiful, more alive and more welcoming than ever.”

As the Covid-19 situation continues to unfold, the real toll on international rowing is beginning to become clear. Although clubs in the UK may suffer substantially as a result of this pandemic, most are relatively well insulated from major disaster via insurance and British Rowing, the same cannot be said for other parts of the world.

One of the regions which will experience a tough knock is Sabaudia, which was due to host the first of the 2020 World Cups before they were called off. Sabaudia may be a new name to most of us who are more familiar with such events taking place at Linz and Poznan, but to the locals, Sabaudia has always had a strong rowing heritage.

Set in the Latina province of Italy, Sabaudia has a rich cultural history, whilst the Rowing venue has played host to multiple training camps, including that of Bedford Modern School. The region has invested heavily to prepare the ground – and water – for the international community to descend on the course.

The committee has said despite the Covid setbacks, they will return stronger than ever, with aims to host the 2022 Junior European Championships and the European Championships 2 years later in 2024.

On a more official note, FISA have announced further cuts to the 2020 season, with the events such as the 2020 World Rowing Tour to American Samoa being called off, with similar consequences for World Rowing’s Beach Sprints and Coastal Rowing Championships. The World Master’s, Senior, Under23 and Junior Championships also faced the axe in response to global pandemic restrictions.

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That’s all for this week’s briefing. Be sure to tune in next week for the latest news, advice, and analysis.

Until then, keep up with our other Covid-19 content on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Stay Safe

Ed Evans

Opinions Editor

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