Why was Edinburgh international swimming competition allowed to go ahead days before lockdown?

QUESTIONS are being asked about why a major swimming event attended by hundreds of people was allowed to go ahead in Edinburgh shortly before the coronavirus lockdown.

Concerns about the likelihood of Covid-19 spreading at large gatherings were already being voiced when the annual Edinburgh International Swim Meet was held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool held on the weekend of March 13-15.

It was shortly after the Cheltenham horse racing festival and Liverpool’s match against Atletico Madrid, which authorities have been criticised for permitting to take place.

Edinburgh Southern Labour MSP Daniel Johnson has written to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to raise concerns about the event.

Top swimmers like Hannah Miley, Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist Adam Peaty and Commonwealth Games gold medallist James Wilby took part in the competition along with leading swimmers from across Europe.

Just the day after the event finished, the UK Government called for an end to all non-essential travel and social contact, telling people to avoid pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues.

In response to that, Scottish Swimming issued a statement saying all events/competitions scheduled to take place before the beginning of May should be postponed.

Official lockdown was announced a week later on March 23.

Mr Johnson said: “Given the concerns raised around Cheltenham, there are serious questions to answer about an event going ahead which has people travelling from all over the country and further afield.”

The Edinburgh International Swim Meet was revived in 2015 after s three-year absence from the sporting calendar.

The annual event attracts a top-class field including, British swimming’s elite senior and junior athletes and leading athletes from Europe and beyond.

Times set in Edinburgh can be used for qualification to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The programme for this year’s event referred to Covid-19 restrictions in place in other countries as a reason why the number of overseas competitors might not be as large.

In the introduction, Les Rodger, president of the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association’s east district, which organises the event, said: “We are proud that this is a truly International Meet with overseas athletes from Denmark, France, Belgium, Ireland, Faroe Islands and Spain all planning to visit and support from the very best of youth and elite swimming from across the home nations.

“Unfortunately a number of our international visitors have been unable to travel from their home nations due to their government’s restrictions – we hope to see them in Edinburgh next year.”

The programme also contained an official welcome message from Lord Provost Frank Ross.

In his letter to Ms Freeman, Mr Johnson said: “I gather that the Meet was well attended with hundreds of participants and spectators present, including world champion swimmers and will have included people who will have travelled far and wide to take part.

“Given that so much has been made of both the Cheltenham Festival, which took place March 10-13, and the Liverpool v Athletico Madrid football match on March 11 being serious high risk transmission events, I would appreciate some clarification about why the Edinburgh swim event was allowed to go ahead.

“That same weekend in Scotland, all Scottish Football fixtures were cancelled, owing to the increased risk of transmission within large crowds.

“I understand that such risks of transmission are increased when indoors, which makes the rationale behind allowing the Edinburgh Swim meet to go ahead all the more concerning.”

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is run on behalf of the council by Edinburgh Leisure. A spokeswoman said: “From Edinburgh Leisure’s perspective, we continued to follow and adhere to Government advice and instruction regarding Covid-19.”

The Scottish Government said it was not involved or consulted in the running of the event.