World Para Powerlifting

Safe Return to Para Powerlifting
Guidelines
Version 1.0

Introduction
These guidelines have been developed to assist NPCs, NFs and athletes in considering
their conduct and to help ensure a safe return to the sport of Para powerlifting. They
provide a list of key principles to observe in order to reduce the likelihood of spreading
the COVID-19 virus upon resumption of Para powerlifting activities. They are notintended to apply as a reference guide for LOCs in hosting Para powerlifting events.
First and foremost, all individuals involved in Para powerlifting activities should adhere
to any guidance, rules and regulations produced by your national and local governments
and to the health regulations in place in your country and local area. You should not
return to any Para powerlifting activities until it is considered safe to do so on the basisof the advice provided by these authorities.
Before the start of any sporting activity you should consider your own individual healthsituation and environment. Individuals should not return to sport if in the past 14 days
they have been unwell, displayed any symptoms associated with COVID-19 or had
contact with someone with a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
These guidelines are for general information purposes only and should not be relied
upon as a form of medical or legal advice. Like any activities, there are some inherent
risks involved and by participating in Para powerlifting activities you are accepting thoserisks. In resuming Para powerlifting activities you do so at your own risk and in no way is
the IPC or WPPO liable in connection with your use of these guidelines

WPPO - Centre of Excellence2Key Principles
Self-behaviourApply personal hygiene measures (even when training away from group facilities);Wash or sanitize your hands thoroughly (minimum 20 seconds) before and afterpractice;

Avoid at all times touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands;

Sneeze and/or cough into a tissue or the internal crease of the elbow;

Be aware of which surfaces you touch;Keep when possible a minimum 1.5 metre distance from other people; preferably
2 metres during and after physical activity;

Athletes or staff deemed to be at greater risk should strongly consider whether it issafe for them to participate and follow any applicable government or healthauthority advice specific to them.

Training facilityKeep your personal belongings inside your bag rather than leaving it in commonareas;

Use individual chalk zip-lock bags or plastic storage containers with athlete names
to store your items;

Maintain social distancing separation between all benches and training areas;

Use your own personal equipment (straps, belts, wraps, chalk, towel, water bottleetc.);When possible during training, avoid sharing bars and benches.

3Key Principles
Equipment

Clean and disinfect all surfaces, such as bars, weights and benches before andafter every use;

Immediately clean any surfaces which may contain bodily fluids;

All material used should be disinfected at the end of the training session including
wheelchairs, prostheses etc.

AthletesResumption of physical activity must be progressive in duration and intensity inorder to readjust the body to the effort (heart, muscles, tendons) applying agradual return to training;Athletes should wear masks at all times when they are not in training;Follow the ‘Get in, train and get out’ process (athletes should arrive to the training
facility wearing their sports clothes, ready to train and leave quickly after practice).

CoachingWear a mask during the entire training session;

Always maintain social distancing when giving feedback and while athletes areresting;Implement a 15-minute buffer between participants, to ensure equipment can becleaned;Organize online training sessions and use of online resources (videos) where
possible.

4

More Resources
Further resources are also available online:

Videos Handwashing video demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E&feature=youtu.be Public advice: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-forpublic

Websites World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/home IPC: https://www.paralympic.org/news/information-para-athletes-and-ipc-members-covid-19
 IOC: https://www.olympic.org/athlete365/coronavirus/Credits
 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/05/australian-institute-of-sportais-framework-for-rebooting-sport-in-a-covid-19-environment.pdf
 COVID-19 Community Tennis Guidelines - https://www.tennis.com.au/wpcontent/uploads/2020/05/Community-Tennis-Guidelines.pdf
 IWF Medical Committee USAPA - https://www.usapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/COVID-19-RETURN-TOPLAY_USAPA.pdf
 USA Weightlifting: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting/Resources/COVID19Updates/Back-to-Lifting-Guides
 World Rugby - https://playerwelfare.worldrugby.org/covid-19

WPPO - Centre of Excellence5Raise the Bar with World Para Powerlifting!
Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49 228 2097-214, Fax +49 228 2097-209
Info@WorldParaPowerlifting.org
www.WorldParaPowerlifting.org
International Paralympic Committee
Photos ©: Hiroki Nishioka