Lukas: Negative test frees Rally Estonia competitors from restrictions

Minister of Culture Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa) has confirmed that an exemption regarding movement restrictions will be made for WRC Rally Estonia and the Tallinn triathlon, both held on the first weekend of September.
Lukas told ERR on Thursday that the government is ready to make exemptions for important sports events going forward, but all depends on the overall epidemiological situation in the country.
The exemption will be made for two major events coming up: WRC Rally Estonia (September 4-6) and IRONMAN Tallinn, a long-distance triathlon race (September 5).
Commenting on Rally Estonia, Lukas said: "They (competitors and teams - ed.) will be exempt from a movement restriction if the give a negative COVID-19 test in their country of travel origin and in Estonia, when they land.
"They will be directed to a specific area where they will not be in contact with spectators or the wider public. That is safe for both them and others. It will happen as such for the Ironman triathlon as well, where elite athletes coming to Estonia will be excused from restrictions, about 60 people. Others will not be exempt, they have to test and be quarantined for two weeks."
The culture minster also thinks Estonian athletes should be exempt from restrictions when traveling, but only if it is truly necessary and if the Health Board (Terviseamet) gives their approval.
Lukas concluded: "Life has started again, competitions and camps are happening all over and part of our athletes are training abroad. They should not have too many obstacles to travel between their home land - in order to represent Estonia and to participate in Estonian championships."
Some of the WRC drivers due to take part in Rally Estonia, including table leader Sebastien Ogier (France) come from countries whose travellers would normally need to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Estonia. The three teams taking part this year, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, M-Sport Ford WRT and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, are based in Germany, the U.K. and Finland respectively - all countries below the 16 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants threshold after which quarantining is mandatory.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste