DECLARATION
Due to the ongoing nature of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the health and logistical risks still associated with many countries and the continuing lockdowns in major cities across Australia, Gymnastics Australia (GA) has made the difficult decision that it will not send a full Team to participate in the 2022 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championship event in Azerbaijan 11-13 March 2022.
In making this decision, consideration was given to a range of factors including, but not limited to, the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety and logistical challenges this presents:
· Gymnastics Australia’s duty of care towards its members.
· Australia’s borders are closed and international travel from Australia remains strictly controlled. There are currently no definitive timelines on when international borders will re-open.
· International travel from Australia is only available if you are exempt or you have been granted an individual exemption by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs with these exemptions only granted for essential business reasons.
· Only Australian citizens with legal residency in Azerbaijan are permitted to enter Azerbaijan.
· COVID infections are increasing in Azerbaijan. The Australian Government advice is “Do not travel to Azerbaijan due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.”
· There is currently an Australian Government’s mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine on return, at individual cost. There is no definitive decision on when mandatory hotel quarantine will conclude.
· Flight options to Australia are extremely limited and are expensive. Flights and port of entry to Australia are subject to availability under increasingly reduced international arrival caps. Flight schedules/routes are changed and/or cancelled at very short notice. QANTAS for example will not be flying to Azerbaijan until at least April 2022.
· The Government’s roadmap outlines an easing of restrictions in Phase C (80% of the eligible population is vaccinated) which is highly dependent on individuals being fully vaccinated.
· There remains a high risk of delay in return to Australia.
· Availability and lack of international travel insurance available (COVID-19 related matters are not covered).