Local youth petitioning UCP government to open up sports
High school sports and games are still not allowed as part of the Alberta government’s COVID-19 restrictions. A petition called Let Us Play Alberta was launched by a local young man. Timothy Holthe is calling on the UCP government to fully open all high school sports and allow for students to play once again. Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says there are still steps that need to be taken before the restrictions can be lifted.
Holthe says that students are feeling isolated and alone during the pandemic. He admits that he’s struggled with his own mental health in the past, and engaging in high school sports were a great way of combating that.
From the Alberta government website, it mentions that lessons, practices, and physical conditioning activities are allowed for indoor and outdoor minor sports and school athletics. Games are not premitted.
“If nobody stands up for youth activities and student athletics, we must stand up for ourselves,” adds Holthe.
The petition goes on to ask the UCP government to reverse the current restrictions, and provide a plan going forward to bring back school sports.
Neudorf says that he loves to see young people engaged in governance, and the community, “I think it speaks to the fact that we as humans are complex beings. We’re not just physical, we’re mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.”
“It’s something we want to work towards. While still protecting people’s physical health,” adds Neudorf about when a possible easing of restrictions could come.
Lethbridge has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases recently. Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced today that three weeks ago on February 25, Lethbridge had 19 active cases. Yesterday, Lethbridge had reached 469 active cases of COVID-19 in the community. The province is expected to provide an update on Step Three of easing restrictions on March 22.
The petition currently has over 100 signatures https://www.change.org/p/alberta-schools-athletic-association-asaa-letusplayalberta-open-up-all-sports-in-alberta?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_27558760_en-CA%3A4&recruiter=1182921515&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
