GRANDSTAND CLOSURE FOR THE 2021 WA LITTLE ATHLETICS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The WA Little Athletics State Track and Field Championships presented by Go for 2&5 attracts over 2,000 patrons per day. As per the Government’s COVID Event Guidelines, events of more than 500 people require Local Government Authority approval and can result in the implementation of restrictions to deliver the event.

 We will be conducting the WA Little Athletics State Track and Field Championships in a similar manner to the WA State Track and Field Relay Championships in December 2020, where the grandstand will be closed. However, we will be making some changes to improve accessibility both outside of the stadium in the pavilion area and within the stadium.

Whilst there will still be a single entry and exit point, this will be a single point directly in front of the stadium. The venue fencing will be expanded to include the pavilion area outside of the WA Athletics Stadium and in this area, you can access event merchandise, food trucks and our athlete activation zone. 

Within the stadium arena, the area directly in front of the grandstand will be open as a thoroughfare and standing area to allow spectators to view events on the front straight. There will be several marquees in this space to provide shade as well as a designated area at ground level near the finish line for any person with specific accessibility requirements. The doors near the reception area will also be open to provide a third point of access from the pavilion to the arena. Additional marquees and sunscreen stations will be set up along the bank to ensure the event is sun-smart.

The venue map for the event is available below and will be available at the entrance and throughout the venue.

As previously communicated, the difficultly in enforcing these occupancy limits and social distancing requirements within the Grandstand is caused by the number of entry and exit points to the Grandstand and the nature in how the seating is utilised during the event. This use differs significantly to, for example, a football stadium where patrons purchase tickets to a designated seat, enter the venue, watch the game within their designated seat and exit. These events, due to tickets and assigned seating, have an inbuilt mechanism to manage and deliver the event within the State Government’s health guidelines and requirements. At our events, spectators and athletes move in and out of the stands between events, together and separately, posing further complications to enforcing restrictions of use. As the grassed banks do not have structured seating, different State requirements apply. This has allowed us to deliver the event and provide a quality competition opportunity for our athletes.

 We appreciate your understanding and flexibility in adapting to the required community guidelines so we can host a State Event of this magnitude.  

Athletics West is grateful to be able to continue our competition season and look forward to a successful 2021 WA Little Athletics State championships.