The Yukon Government and the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Catherine Elliot, recently announced new restrictions to curb the new COVID wave fuelled by the Omicron variant. Restrictions include not being able to hold competitive games with other teams. The Star contacted multiple organizations to see how they are handling the new restrictions that go into effect today. A lot of organizations are postponing or canceling events as a result of the new restrictions. Here’s what we found out from the various organizations:

Biathlon Yukon:

“We have implemented the same Covid protocols as we had previously,” stated Bill Curtis, president of Biathlon Yukon.

“Maximum 50 athletes and volunteers on the field of play. Spectators allowed in the spectator area only (separate zone). Everyone, 12 and up, must be vaccinated. (All our athletes and coaches are vaccinated.) Masks mandatory where distancing not practical. (No masks needed while shooting or skiing). No access to indoor facilities at the range.

“We have no cancellations of local events yet due to COVID, but yes because of weather!

“An Outside trip is still scheduled for February but will be revisited as we get closer to the date. Nationals are in March, so we will make a decision as we get closer, if indeed the host club in B.C. plans to hold them,” added Curtis.

Cycling Association of Yukon:

“Cycling Association of Yukon is not currently holding cycling competitions - we may host some fat bike events in February or March - but nothing has been planned yet. We are lucky that we get to be outside due to being on bikes, which helps a lot,” stated Cycling Association of Yukon President Geof Harries.

“No matter what we do, we will follow the current COVID-19 protocols, likely the same as before with our Fat Bike Rally event and the CMBC 5+ Hours of Light. Limited participants (depending on rules), masks required, adequate spacing, hand sanitizer provided and proof of vaccination required.

“We have a weekly youth mountain bike off-season training program running at present that will be affected by the pandemic restrictions, and in particular the vaccination requirements. This is because we follow the rules at https:// www.whitehorse.ca/departments/canada-games-centre/cgc-responds-to-covid-19 and some parents don’t want to get their kids vaccinated, so they cannot participate. This reduces numbers, but I’m fine with that. We want to follow the rules and keep our communities (and kids) safe and healthy,” added Harries.

Canadian Filipino Sports
Association Yukon (CFSAY):

“Ever since all sports organizations were allowed back to hold its regular games, CFSAY has been following and observing all health protocols issued by proper authorities,” stated CFSAY President Aldrin Manalad.

“However, with the new health measures issued which are to take effect this Saturday, CFSAY has decided to cancel/postpone our winter sports tournament mainly because of the rising number of new COVID cases during the holidays, until further notice.

“Hopefully, this is only temporary, as all players are very much excited and eager to get back into action on the hardcourt,” added Manalad

Filipino Canadian Basketball League Yukon (FCBLY):

According to FCBLY Director Joesel Rumbaoa, the FCBLY has postponed their 15th season.

“We are following the protocol of YG/CMOH as soon as they allowed games, that’s the time we'll resume the tourney, but as of now I don’t know how many weeks or months,” stated Rumbaoa.

Polarettes Gymnastics Club:

“Our COVID protocols are the same as when restrictions were announced in November. The only change is that we have adjusted the schedule to allow preschool kids to access our programming again,” stated Polarettes Acting Head Coach and Developmental Coordinator Stephanie Caron.

“Our JO (Junior Olympic) team was hoping to travel to Calgary for the Ed Vincent Invitational Meet in February, but given the recommendation against travel, we most likely will not be attending. Our next out-of-territory meet is in April, so we are unsure whether or not that will be an option.

“Our winter session starts (today),” added Caron.

Whitehorse Curling Club:

“Our board of directors has made the decision to postpone the start of the second half of the Whitehorse Curling Club league curling season ... all league play is suspended until further notice. The lounge will also be closed for the period that league curling is suspended.” –WCC website

Wolfpack Basketball:

“We have a U14 Boys and 15+ programs are starting this weekend. All younger age division program starts are postponed. We are following the recommendations pertaining to sport and recreation activities outlined by the chief medical officer of health for the territory. Each program has limited enrolment to 25 participants. All participants need to be fully vaccinated. We have no competitive games scheduled at this time,” stated Wolfpack Basketball President Tim Brady.

Whitehorse Old-timers
Hockey League(WOHL):

According to WOHL President Bernie Adilman, the league didn’t play on Sunday, Wednesday or Thursday, and will not be playing for the foreseeable future.

Whitehorse Minor Hockey
Association (WMHA):

"We’ve had to postpone the U9 Yukon championships that were set for January 7-9 here in Whitehorse. We hope to hold it later in the season. Our organizers, Amanda Caan, Jen Fummerton and Shauna Frizzell spent countless hours over the last month getting things ready for seven-eight-year-old kids from all over the Yukon,” stated WMHA President Jeff Frizzell.

“All players have been put in cohorts of 20-23 to meet the COVID mandates set out in (the) latest guidelines. The same groups of players will share the ice for practice and have scrimmages with their cohort. No organized games will be taking place until at least the end of January.

“We decided to cohort our Mustangs Rep teams to allow them to prepare for tournament competition later in the season. Tournaments have been cancelled for now in B.C., but their players are still playing divisional games and traveling between communities.

“Alberta is still playing divisional games and hosting tournaments.

“I’m very hopeful that our Rep teams will be able to travel south for competitions in February and March,” said Frizzell.

“I find it extremely frustrating that kids' sports and recreational activities have restrictions put on them, while at the same time schools remain open. We’ve been very careful putting safety protocols in place for our athletes and coaches. Spending an hour at the hockey rink, soccer pitch, volleyball court etc. shouldn’t be more dangerous than a six-hour day at school,” added Frizzell.

Rapids Over-35 Mens’ Soccer

The league has postponed games for the next two weeks.

Yukon Soccer Association (YSA):

“We did postpone our big YSA adult/older youth tournament of the year, the Insomnia Futsal Tourney, this past weekend Jan 2-3,” stated YSA President Jake Hansen. “Hopefully (we) can reschedule in coming months.”

Hansen added it doesn’t look like any games are being played at the moment.

Whitehorse Recreational
Co-ed Soccer:

“We are a recreational league and all our booked times at the Canada Games Centre are all for playing team vs. team games. We do not have practice or training sessions. So we are totally shut down due to the latest YG COVID restrictions,” stated league co-ordinator Vaughan Johnstone.

Alpine Yukon

"Races are currently on hold as the territory circumnavigates its self-declared pandemic emergency. The on-again off-again restrictions make skiing operations very challenging, but we're doing our best to follow Orders and practice CMOH recommendations. Obviously, masks are not required for outdoor high intensity/performance training, but in closed-in spaces, masks are required. Our athletes and members use positive energy waves and do a super job observing and practicing our COVID plan. Eventually, the territorial health restrictions will ease and orders will be rescinded, and if the timings synchronize, Alpine may be in a situation to hold a race or two of its own -- and potentially participate in National Points races in the future," stated Matt Jenner, president of Alpine Yukon.

ElderActive

”Presently we have activities at the Canada Games Center on Monday and Wednesday mornings (pickleball, carpet bowling and shuffleboard). None of these activities have been canceled as yet," stated ElderActive President Walter Brennan.

"We have been working with staff at the Canada Games Center to make sure we are within the guidelines outlined by the CMOH for those activities. Everyone must be fully vaccinated, following the number of participants mandated for the respective areas, masked whenever /wherever required, and following social distancing/masking requirements when not actively engaged in the particular activity," added Brennan.