Dear Members,
Please find below details for consideration following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Cabinet Office has now issued the attached guidance for the public and businesses on the period of National Mourning. This includes considerations for Major Events and Sport (also outlined below):The NI Sports Forum would like to express our sincere condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
MAJOR EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS.
There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period. This is at the discretion of individual organisations.
As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral. They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations.
If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions.
As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.
As the guidance notes state, there is no formal obligation for organisations to postpone or cancel sporting fixtures or events, at either elite or grassroots level, between now and the State Funeral. Decisions will remain at the discretion of individual organisations and sports to consider how they should proceed during the mourning period
The Queen’s state funeral is expected to take place in less than two weeks and further details of the State Funeral will be issued in due course.
The full guidance for consideration can be found here or through the GOV.Uk website.
Additional guidance in is also available through NI Direct.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Honeyford
Northern Ireland Sports Forum