Fans to return at selected pilot sport events from this weekend, Government confirms

Pilot events testing the return of sports fans are set to resume from this weekend amid renewed hope of reopening venues by October, the Government has now confirmed.

Last month, a two-day county cricket friendly between Sussex and Middlesex involved limited numbers of supporters in attendance, while some fans were also initially permitted to attend the very early stages of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

However, all plans for further pilot events due to take place in the first two weeks of August - including the Glorious Goodwood Festival, which some 5,000 people were supposed to attend - were later suspended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson due to a rise in the coronavirus infection rate.

Those plans will now tentatively resume from this weekend, beginning with the World Snooker Championship Final at The Crucible, due to take place across Saturday and Sunday.

"Piloting of a small number of sporting events to test the safe return of spectators will resume from August 15 with a view to reopening competition venues for sports fans, with social distancing measures in place from 1 October," read a statement from No10 released on Thursday night.

"This will commence with the final of the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre during 15-16 August, with a full pilot programme to follow."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: "The nation's hard work to keep the virus under control means we can now make further careful progress on recovery with allowing audiences back for indoor performances, fans back at sports events and the reopening of more Covid-19 secure leisure businesses.

"We must all continue to stay alert but today's welcome news means these organisations can finally get going safely, and we can enjoy more of the things we love as a nation.

"I have no doubt that they will work incredibly hard to keep their fans, patrons, and customers safe."